A Sittingbourne driver with multiple bans crashed into a tree and claimed he did not know he was banned from driving.
Police found the crash. Haines said another car forced him off road. At the hospital, Haines told a nurse about his license and admitted he did not have a valid one.
Officers checked and confirmed he was banned. Haines appeared in court on February 17. He admitted driving while banned and uninsured.
The prosecutor explained Haines’ ban, which started in July 2024 and lasts two years. Haines thought the ban ended, but he did not check.
A “totting-up” ban occurs with 12 points in three years, which can lead to a six-month ban or longer. Haines drove despite the ban, and several prior bans occurred in 1994, 2006, and 2007. He also got a suspended sentence before.
Haines said he drove only to scrap the car and claimed ignorance of the ban and insurance. Haines cited a poor memory as reason for the lack of awareness.
The court ordered a pre-sentencing report due to his history. Jail is a possibility, they warned him. The court chairman noted his repeated offense; a previous suspended sentence did not change his behavior. Sentencing will occur on April 14.