A MAN stopped by police after driving a stolen car with false registration plates was disqualified from driving at the time.

Ryan Baker, 30, from Latchford, was spotted by officers on Richmond Avenue on Tuesday behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Corsa alongside Kayne Kennedy, from Oldham.

The car was previously reported stolen after a burglary in the Oldham area in February.

Both appeared in Warrington Magistrates' Court on Friday after being remanded in HMP Altcourse.

Angela Blackmore, prosecuting, said at around 11.40am on Tuesday, April 30, police received information about a car in the Latchford area using false plates.

Officers located the vehicle outside a takeaway, where two men were seen.

They said the vehicle had been ‘driving at speed’ and came to a sudden stop to the sound of ‘screeching brakes’.

A witness said the driver threw something into a nearby garden where police recovered the keys.

Blackmore also revealed how Baker has five previous convictions from 10 offences, ranging from 2009 to 2018.

Kennedy, 19, was convicted three times for three offences between 2015 and 2018.

Gary Heaven, defending Baker, asked magistrates whether his client’s actions necessarily crossed the custody threshold.

He said: “There is no evidence to confirm he was responsible for the false plates, and he obtained the vehicle for his own use and not for resale.

“He has no previous form for this sort of offence, but having been disqualified, he should have thought harder and took more care before getting behind the wheel.

“A non-custodial sentence would be more helpful to the individual while also serving as a punishment for his actions.”

Jim Edwards, defending Kennedy, also added that his client ‘accepts responsibility’ for his role in the crime and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

In sentencing, chair magistrate Robin Bradshaw, said to Baker: “After listening to your solicitor, we still believe these offences cross the custody threshold.

“You obtained a vehicle even though you were disqualified from driving, and you should have known better than to get behind the wheel.”

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Baker was jailed for 16 weeks, disqualified from driving for 14 months and handed a £115 fine.

Spared from custody, Kennedy was given a 12-month community order, with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 20 thinking skills programme sessions.

He was also ordered to complete 100 hours community work and a given a £170 fine.