A WEST Wight chef who cooked up a plan to use his girlfriend's van while serving a driving disqualification, had his ban extended after police followed him at speed for several miles on the Military Road. 

Harry Blazeby, of Bouldnor Mead, Shalfleet, admitted driving whilst disqualified and without insurance, on the B3399 road at Shalcombe, on November 11.

Shortly after 3pm, police on patrol saw Blazeby driving on the Military Road at speed past the Wight Mouse pub and followed him.

"Blazeby was travelling at such a high speed, it took officers some time to catch him up. He took a right turn into Brook and was still accelerating, but came to a stop when the police activated their blue lights," said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

When Blazeby got out the vehicle and identified himself, he immediately admitted he was disqualified from driving.

Blazeby also appeared before Island magistrates on May 6 for drug-driving and was given a 12-month driving ban.

For the 25-year-old, Henry Farley said his client would normally have got a lift to work from either his girlfriend or brother, but they weren't available.

"His girlfriend has a business and a van. He naively took the van because he was worried about letting his employers down," explained Mr Farley.

"He needed to get to his work by 9am, could not get a taxi and there was no bus to get him remotely on time for work, so made the decision to drive."

Blazeby was banned from driving for three months, on top of five more left to run on his previous disqualification, together with a £280 fine, £85 costs and a £112 surcharge.