Boston factory worker caught behind wheel at Sleaford two months after drink-driving ban

A factory worker caught behind the wheel just two months after being handed a driving ban must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay out £199.

Marian Dinu was described as ‘the type of person who likes to help people out’ when he appeared in court on Wednesday (April 24).

But aiding a friend to pick up their new car was an act of kindness that came back to haunt the 25-year-old when police pulled him over driving a BMW 320 on the A15 at Holdingham, near Sleaford, on February 26.

“It was 8.40pm when police had reason to follow the vehicle,” prosecutor Turan Sunak told Boston magistrates.

“The car came to a stop at Burger King. Police carried out a check and found he was disqualified and uninsured.”

Dinu, of St Nicholas Close, Boston, was given an 18-month ban for drink driving in December last year.

Defending Dinu, who moved to the country from Romania, Carrie Simson said her client ‘didn’t realise how serious it was’.

“The reason he was driving was because a friend bought a car and asked him to give him a lift to Lincoln to get the car,” she added.

“It was the first time he’d driven (since the ban) and didn’t understand the consequences of his actions.”

A probation report prepared for the court said that following his ban the factory worker had been demoted from an operations team leader to a team leader.

“He seems to be the type of person who likes to help people out when he can,” the report added.

For driving while disqualified Dinu received a 12-month driving ban.

He was also ordered to undertake a 12-month community order, including 15 rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Dinu was also ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and 85 costs.

There was no separate penalty for driving without insurance.