A MAN who was banned from the roads for dangerous driving has been jailed after he got back on his motorbike before skipping unpaid work requirements.

Richard York, of Mold Crescent, Banbury, was initially given a six month jail term, suspended for 18 months, for an earlier count of dangerous driving on May 11 this year.

As part of his suspended sentence for the offence the 23-year old was also made subject to a community order which included an unpaid work requirement, and he was disqualified from driving for 21 months.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday at his sentencing for driving while disqualified how York had not only been caught by police driving a motorbike through Banbury but he had also missed two of his unpaid work appointments ordered as part of his suspended sentence.

He missed the two appointments on October 8 and October 22 the court heard.

On the same day of his first missed appointment - on October 8, York was spotted by police riding a motorcycle at South Barr Street, Banbury at about 6.45pm.

They were first alerted because of the vehicle's 'loud exhaust' the court heard, and officers followed York before stopping him at Britannia Road.

York went on to admit driving while disqualified and driving without insurance and later admitted to breaching the conditions of his suspended sentence by missing the unpaid work.

Jane Brady, defending, told the court yesterday that her client had been been 'foolish' and 'naive' in his offending.

She said: "He wanted escapism, to feel he could get back on a bike, back into Banbury.

"He was only stopped by police on October 8 due to the loud exhaust, he gave his current details and he was co-operative throughout.

"He realises that he has acted incredibly stupidly this year and knows how close he is to going into custody."

She added that the motorcycle had since been disposed of.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said that because of the breach of his conditions and his flouting of the courts order she had no option but to pass an immediate custodial sentence.

She said: "Back in May I passed a suspended sentence on you for dangerous driving and I would have made it abundantly clear on that occasion what would happen if you would breach that suspended sentence.

"Whilst I have sympathy for you I can't disregard the fact that you have flagrantly breached the suspended sentence by committing a further offence and by failing to comply with its requirements."

She handed him a two-month prison sentence for driving while disqualified and activated the six-month suspended sentence for dangerous driving to run consecutively, totalling eight months in prison.

He was also given a further 16-month disqualification from driving.

For the further offence of driving without insurance there was no separate penalty and his driving licence was endorsed.

He must also pay a statutory victim surcharge.