A banned driver climbed into the back seat of a car pretending to be asleep after being pulled over by police, a court heard.

Gareth Andrew Lowe, 34, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, March 30.

The court heard that Lowe was spotted driving along the Newtown Bypass by a police officer just before 11pm on October 3, 2020 after travelling from Pembrokeshire.

While approaching the white BMW, the officer noticed Lowe climbing from the driver's seat into the back seats, and he also saw front seat passenger Gemma Stead climbing into the driver's seat.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said: "The police officer looked inside the car and saw Lowe lying on the back seats pretending to be asleep."

Ms Tench added that Lowe then told the officer that the pair had been to Pembroke and that Stead had become "so tired that he had to drive".

Defending, Robert Hanratty said that Lowe had been driving for an hour before being stopped by the police officer on the bypass.

"They had been on a long journey and she had been feeling very tired. Giving little thought, Mr Lowe offered to drive so she could have a rest," he said.

Mr Hanratty added that Lowe had "not been in any bother for some time" despite being banned from driving two months earlier.

He told the court that 36-year-old Stead "was taking a conscious risk using a car which was connected to her work at the time."

Lowe, of Whitworth Road, Rochdale, was given a 12-month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work, 12-month driving ban and fined £120, £95 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Stead, of Kirkholt, Rochdale, was given a £120 fine, £34 victim surcharge and £85 costs after pleading guilty to aiding the use of a motor vehicle without insurance.