A Haverfordwest man was caught driving while disqualified just four days before his ban would have expired, a court heard on Tuesday.

Mark Hanson, of Hill Park Schoolhouse, Flat 5, Prendergast, pleaded guilty to the charge on Tuesday, and also admitted driving without insurance.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan said that on the morning of January 7th, police became suspicious when they spotted Hanson doing a u-turn on Ferry Lane, Pembroke Dock.

She said they followed the car and after it had pulled over, Hanson swapped places with a female who had been sitting in the passenger seat.

"He asked if he could be let off with a warning, he said he only drove because his girlfriend had become stuck in the snow," said Ms Morgan.

She added that Hanson, aged 35, had his licence revoked in 2006 for dangerous driving and had a previous conviction for driving while disqualified.

Defence lawyer Sharon Knox said her client had never planned to drive that day. She said Hanson had come out to help his girlfriend get the car out of a layby after it became stuck in the snowy conditions.

"He made the stupid decision to help get the car out and drove it to Munroe Court," she said.

"His disqualification was actually up on the 11th, four days later."

Ms Knox added that Hanson had undergone some difficult times, having had cancer as a child and suffered with chronic back pain after being diagnosed with a spinal condition.

She said he has received treatment for depression and he and his girlfriend, who is bipolar, had recently moved out of homeless accommodation in Tenby.

Presiding magistrate Roy Thomas told Hanson that while he didn't commit the offence recklessly, he could have caused danger to others.

He was sentenced to an 18 month community order for driving while disqualified, and ordered to pay £200 in fines and court costs for driving without insurance. He also had six penalty points added to his licence.