Matthew Morley, 32, of Blenheim Way, Thetford, jailed after being caught behind the wheel despite prior road ban for drink-driving

A man who was convicted of drink-driving at the beginning of this month has been jailed after being caught driving whilst disqualified.

Matthew Morley, 32, of Blenheim Way, Thetford, was seen driving in Beccles on Sunday, December 10, just eight days after his original conviction.

He appeared at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, on Monday, December 11 and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, as well as being disqualified from driving for five years.

Officers from Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team (NSRAPT) encountered Morley driving a Vauxhall Astra erratically in Beccles town centre on December 10 at around 8.40am.

Police followed the vehicle and found it was uninsured, and when Morley pulled up in New Market he ran away as officers tried to speak to him.

He was detained a short time after, failed a roadside drug wipe and was found to be disqualified from driving. Cannabis and an open beer can were recovered from his vehicle.

Morley was transported to Martlesham PIC where a blood sample was taken due to the failed drug wipes, and he remains under investigation for this offence pending the results.

Morley’s disqualification stemmed from an incident on Saturday, December 2 in Cringleford, Norfolk, on the A11.

Police were called to reports of a two-vehicle collision at 2am, and he failed to stop following this crash but was found 15 minutes later despite attempts to hide in his vehicle.

After this incident he pleaded guilty to six offences at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on December 4, including driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop after an accident, driving whilst disqualified, driving without due care and attention, driving without insurance and possession of a Class B drug, namely cannabis.

Sentencing for these charges was adjourned until February 9, but in the wake of the Beccles incident Morley was sentenced on December 11.

Eighteen weeks of Morley’s sentence stem from driving whilst disqualified on December 10, with the possession of drugs on the same day resulting in a three week sentence to run concurrently.

The five year driving ban stems from the drink-driving incident on December 2, as well as a concurrent sentence of four weeks.

Morley was also sentenced to eight weeks in prison to be served consecutively after prior Community Order he was subject to was revoked in respect of assault and criminal damage offences. This brought the total custodial time to 26 weeks.

Chief Inspector Vicky McParland, Head of the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Roads & Armed Policing Team (NSRAPT), said: “There is absolutely no excuse for this behaviour and it beggars belief that he can show such utter disregard for the safety of other road users and the law.

“Matthew Morley is a persistent offender, who was already subject to a driving ban and was awaiting sentence for previous offences.

“I hope the sentencing demonstrates the seriousness of driving under the influence and driving whilst disqualified.”

Morley was also ordered to pay £299 in costs and other charges.