A CILGERRAN man was unaware of his driving conviction until reading about it in the Tivy-Side, magistrates have heard.

Christopher David Thomas, aged 30, of Ger y Coed, Cwmplysgog, appeared before the bench at Aberystwyth Justice Centre on Wednesday.

He had been banned from driving for six months, fined £980 and ordered to pay £151 costs for driving a Honda Jazz at 46mph in a 30mph limit, without a valid licence or insurance, after being found guilty in his absence by Llanelli magistrates on April 5.

Magistrates set aside the conviction after Thomas made a statutory declaration at last week’s hearing, stating he knew nothing about the previous court case and had not received a summons to attend.

He said: “I only became aware of it a week ago. I found out through the Tivy-Side after it was seen by my father. He said ‘is this you?’ That’s the first thing I knew about it.”

The court heard that post from Thomas’ previous address was then put through his door, and he opened a notification of his six month disqualification.

Alan Lewis, defending, said his client had dealt with the situation immediately after reading the Tivy-Side.

Thomas pleaded guilty to speeding but denied the other two charges when magistrates reopened the case after declaring the original conviction dull and void.

The case was adjourned until May 11.