A DRIVER stopped by police carrying out a routine check was not insured and his provisional licence had expired, a court heard.

Kion Bowers, 22, was stopped while driving a Fiat Scudo on the A629 in Skipton on March 12, heard Skipton Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The court heard Bowers already had six points on his licence, for driving without insurance in July last year.

Bowers, who admitted using a vehicle without insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, apologised and said it had been a blatantly stupid thing to do.

"I deserve to be disqualified," he said.

He added he had been completely unaware his provisional licence had expired.

He said he has two children and was about to start a new job.

Bowers, of Victoria Street, Sutton in Craven, had eight penalty points added to his licence  for driving with no insurance.

There was no separate penalty for driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

The penalty points added to those already on his licence took him over the 12-point limit making him a 'totter' - resulting in a six-month disqualification.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of £440, a surcharge of £176 and a cost of £85.