A 40 year old Stroud man has been given a six months suspended jail term for his seventh offence of driving while disqualified.

Michael McCormick of Devereaux Crescent, Ebley, was caught at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta in Cainscross Road on 3rd November last year, magistrates in Cheltenham were told last week.

He had an illegal level of cannabis in his blood at the time of the offence - and he had no insurance or test certificate for the car.

McCormick pleaded not guilty to driving while banned, without insurance and with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in his system at above the legal limit but was convicted of all the charges by the magistrates. He admitted having no test certificate for the vehicle.

He was banned from driving for a year and sentenced to six months jail suspended for two years.

The magistrates said they were imposing a jail term because it was "the 7th driving whilst disqualified on the defendant's record

and the offence is aggravated by drug driving and no insurance."

However the magistrates said they had decided to suspend the senrtence because they found 'there is hope of rehabilitation.'

McCormick was placed under supervision for two years with a thirty day programme requirement.

He was also fined £180 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £122 surcharge - a total of £387. He was told he can pay at £10 a week starting on Dec 14th.