A man with short-term memory loss blames forgetfulness for getting behind the wheel despite being banned.

William Wares said he had forgotten he was forbidden from driving until he had taken an extended test.

The 58-year-old was spotted by a Sussex Police sergeant driving a red Ford Transit van in Ditchling Road, Brighton, on February 11.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (May 16) Wares, of Upper Hollingdean Road, Brighton, admitted driving while disqualified.

He also admitted possessing £3,750 worth of cannabis.

A charge of producing the cannabis was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Sarah Wainwright, prosecuting, said that Wares had previously been disqualified from driving after being convicted of dangerous driving.

She explained he had never actually held a full licence, but had still driven in Brighton on the day of the offence.

Officers stopped his vehicle and found a small amount of herbal cannabis. A fuller search of his flat in Dudeney Lodge revealed that he had a lot of cannabis.

Richard Franks, defending, said that he suffered from a series of ailments including high blood pressure which led to him being susceptible to “short-term memory loss”.

He added: “He forgot he was disqualified.”

He said the drugs were “given to him” although he had grown them in the past and that he smoked, drank the drug in coffee and ate cannabis for medicinal purposes.

He said: “When he was 14 he had an accident and suffered from crushed vertebrae. He also suffers from osteoarthritis.

“But he suffers from pre-cancer in his mouth and he no longer smokes.”

Wares said he had no intention to drive again.

He admitted driving while disqualified and possession of cannabis.

Sentencing was adjourned to a later date.