A Witney man who was caught driving while disqualified has been sentenced to prison.

Joshua Wilks-Hanley of Eastfield Road was charged via a postal requisition on October 17, 2023, with a count each of disqualified driving, driving without insurance and failure to reply to a notice of intended prosecution.

The 21-year-old appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 8 and was sentenced to a total of 21 weeks’ imprisonment and further disqualified from driving for a period of 24 months.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £150 and a surcharge of £154.

On May 7, 2023, at around 11.50pm, Wilks-Hanley, who was already disqualified from driving, was seen by police and made off from officers.

He failed to reply to a request to provide information about the driver of the vehicle when required.

Following a police investigation, there was sufficient evidence to identify him as the driver and he was charged with the offences.

PC Charlie Hayes said: “Wilks-Hanley was already banned from driving when officers suspected him to be driving a vehicle on May 7.

“Following an investigation, we secured enough evidence to charge him, and he admitted the offences in court.

“This is not the first time that Wilks-Hanley has been involved in this type of offence, which impacts upon community road safety.

“I am pleased that the court has given a custodial sentence, a further two year disqualification from driving and financial penalties, which indicates the serious nature of the offences.

“We will always seek to identify and prosecute those who flout driving disqualifications and Wilks-Hanley now has a period of imprisonment to reflect upon his actions.”