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Wednesday, 26 July 2006, 13:32 GMT 14:32 UK

UK's most convicted driver jailed

Jamie Manderson Britain's most convicted motorist has been jailed for driving while banned for the 48th time.

Jamie Manderson, 33, from Swindon, has been disqualified from driving each year since 1988, when he was 15.

The club bouncer's solicitor, Rob Ross, said that, in addition to being hooked on drugs, Manderson had a "serious addiction to cars".

Manderson was jailed for five months by Swindon magistrates on Wednesday after admitting driving while disqualified.

He also admitted driving without insurance in June this year, shortly after a spell in prison.

"Jamie is a likeable idiot, really"
Solicitor Rob Ross

Manderson has nearly 200 previous convictions, mainly for motoring matters.

About eight years ago he ran over a 12-year-old cyclist as he drove a robbery getaway car.

At Wednesday's hearing the court heard how in June Manderson was arrested outside his Swindon home after a police officer saw him parking a BMW.

He admitted the fresh offences at the local police station and was remanded in custody until Thursday's hearing.

Previous hearing

Magistrate Mamie Beasant told Manderson: "If you keep on disobeying court orders, you will keep being brought back to this court and, I can promise you, you will go to prison."

She imposed an additional two-year driving ban.

At a previous hearing, Manderson's tally of 48 offences of driving while disqualified was labelled "unique".

Outside court his lawyer Mr Ross said: "Jamie is a likeable idiot, really. Jamie suffers from a very serious addiction to cars. He just can't leave them alone.

"During the 1980s he used to steal cars to order and he made a lot of money.

"Then, a few years ago, he got addicted to heroin, but it's the cars he's really hooked on. He just doesn't understand the words 'don't drive'."



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Related to this story:
'Serial offender' driver assessed (19 Jul 06 |  Wiltshire )

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