AN ISLE of Wight man with an extensive, 11-year record of motoring offences, that includes dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified, is set to be jailed next month.
Joseph Barrass, also known as Joseph Baker, admitted driving whilst disqualified and driving without a licence and insurance, near Ryde, on the evening of July 13, when he appeared before Island magistrates last month.
In doing so, the 27-year-old, of George Street, Ryde — who appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Monday — flouted the terms of a 16-month suspended prison sentence.
The suspended sentence order (SSO), for a period of two years, was imposed by a judge in February for dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.
Regarding his latest offending, police on patrol on Brading Road, were brought to the attention of a Renault Clio on the Tesco roundabout, driven by Barrass.
The engine was being revved and Barrass, with three female passengers in the car, was honking the horn.
As he passed officers, Barrass tried to hide his face to avoid identification, said Edward Elton, prosecuting.
"There was police intelligence Barrass had been identified as driving that vehicle, having been disqualified in February," Mr Elton said.
Officers followed, but when they caught up with the Clio, it had been abandoned near a public footpath.
One of the passengers, Amy Hall, returned to the car and said it had been driven by 'Joey' and that she was unaware he was a disqualified driver.
Barrass acquired the car after he was banned from driving in February.
The court was told of his extensive string of serious motoring offences, which began in Leeds in 2010 and which continued on the Island, on a regular basis, since 2017.
Barrass has a record of 19 previous convictions for 48 offences.
The court was told it comprised, in addition to his latest offending, seven instances of dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified, aggravated vehicle taking, taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, failing to stop twice, failing to surrender and various driving without a licence and insurance.
During his periods of offending, Barrass has been jailed twice for a total of 16 months, had two SSOs (including his latest breached order) and a string of driving bans.
On his previous court appearance last week, the judge, Recorder Malcolm Gibney, refused him bail due to his offending record and said it was inevitable he would be imprisoned for his latest offending.
The judge on Monday, Recorder Barry McElduff, continued his remand in custody, to reappear at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on October 14.
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