A man from Swindon with a history of driving offences has been caught driving while disqualified, without insurance and in possession of cannabis.

Liam Phillips, 24, of Ruskin Avenue, pleaded guilty to all matters at Swindon Magistrates Court on August 19.

The court heard how officers saw Phillips driving around half 9 on the evening of Friday, August 16 around Kingfisher Drive in Dorcan with two passengers in the car.

Officers pulled him over in the Morrisons car park for flagging as uninsured and Phillips admitted he was already disqualified from driving, but they also found cannabis in his possession after noticing a strong smell in the vehicle.

He has four previous convictions for dangerous driving, his most recent being in July 2023, and in 2019 he seriously injured someone.

Caroline Dunne, defending, said Phillips “admits he has a terrible record” and told the court that his friends were getting the cars for him and asking him to drive them.

The magistrate said Phillips had a “complete disregard for court orders and the safety of others”, telling him: “we need to protect the public from you.”

He was granted bail and his sentencing will be on September 23.