Max Langdale who was caught driving while disqualified in Downham Market at risk of prison sentence

A 19-year-old who was disqualified from driving when he decided to get back behind the wheel to drive to the beach is now at risk of going to prison.

Max Langdale appeared at Lynn’s Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted to driving while disqualified and also driving without insurance.

Langdale was disqualified from driving for 12 months in November 2022 after admitting to drug-driving.

However, as explained by prosecutor Paul Brown, Langdale was seen driving on the A10 Bexwell roundabout in Downham by police officers and was subsequently pulled over.

When spoken to by police, Langdale admitted he had been driving and said that he was going to the beach.

There were also passengers in the Volkswagen Caddy that Langdale was driving.

Langdale, of Musker Place, Papworth Everard near Cambridge, would have driven around 40 miles to get to Downham from his home address and would continue even further to get to the coast.

In mitigation, Alison Muir said: “The vehicle belonged to his father but wasn’t insured for Max to drive because he was disqualified.”

Ms Muir explained that Langdale did not initially plan to drive, but ended up doing so due to a family member who was supposed to be driving having too much to drink.

“He knows it was wrong, he shouldn’t have driven there, he should have rung his dad to ask for help,” said Ms Muir.

Magistrates decided to adjourn the case so that an all-options report could be carried out.

“Prison is not ruled out,” said chair of the magistrates William Hush.

Langdale was released on unconditional bail and is expected to return to Lynn’s Magistrates’ Court on October 5.