A DROITWICH man is behind bars after being caught driving while disqualified three times in the space of six months.

Steven Bennett, aged 28, was also caught in possession of stolen goods on one of the occasions that police stopped him, Worcester magistrates heard yesterday.

Bennett was first stopped on Monday, March 4, on the A38 in Wychbold, said Suzanne Llewellyn, prosecuting.

"He admitted being disqualified," she said.

On the second occasion, on Monday, April 29, police saw Bennett driving a Ford Sierra with a stolen horsebox attached.

"He told them he had been approached by two men who had offered him £100 to drive the horse trailer away with the Sierra," said Mrs Llewellyn.

He was driving from Droitwich to Stourport-on-Severn when he was stopped.

Bennett, of Farriers Corner, was then caught again on Thursday, August 15.

Richard Wilkes, defending, said Bennett realised he was going to prison but pointed out he had admitted his offences at an early stage.

"With the horse box incident, he knew there was something wrong with it and he gave details to the police to help them with their inquiries," he said.

"On August 15, he was giving his long-term partner a lift to pick up a prescription. He accepts he must be dealt with by way of a custodial sentence."

Bennett was also charged with three counts of driving without insurance. He admitted all offences.

The chairman of the bench described Bennett's previous record for driving offences as "appalling".

He was jailed for a total of six months for the disqualified driving offences.

He was given two months for handling stolen goods, to run concurrently, and given a total of 24 points on his licence for driving without insurance.

He was disqualified from driving for five years.