A COMPANY director who drove while disqualified has received a two-year-ban at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Russell Blackhall of Damside, Innerleithen, pleaded guilty to the offence and also driving with no insurance.

The court heard that the 55-year-old was normally driven to and from his environmental consulting engineering office in Peebles.

But on the day of the offence his wife had taken ill at work and wished to go home.

Defence lawyer Greg McDonnel said: "He should not have driven her home but stupidly did so. He could have organised it differently so has no reasonable excuse.

"He was aware of the risk he was taking but did not think through the consequences. It has been a salutary lesson for him."

Sheriff David Clapham said it was a serious matter and could not deal with the matter by a fine.

Instead, he ordered Blackhall to carry out 80 hours unpaid work as part of a Community Pay Back Order and disqualified him from driving for two years.