Jake Anthony Yatras in Coffs court for driving while disqualified

A Coffs Harbour man was caught driving only a month into his six month ban, a court has heard. It was not the first time he had been busted behind the wheel unlicensed.

Jake Anthony Yatras leaves Coffs Harbour Court House on Monday after being convicted of drive motor vehicle during a period of disqualification.

A Coffs Harbour man with a traffic history of driving when he shouldn’t is off the road again.

Jake Anthony Yatras, 28, was pulled over by police for a random breath test on Solitary Islands Way at Sandy Beach at 10.10pm on December 4.

The breath test proved negative but when officers asked him to produce his driver’s licence, Yatras replied “I don’t have one”, according to the police facts.

Checks revealed his licence had been disqualified for a period of six months in November.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers told Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday that Yatras’ history included a number of charges for driving while his licence was cancelled or suspended.

Defence lawyer Johnathon Paff conceded his client’s driving history “doesn’t assist him”, but added Yatras had been dealing with some mental health issues at the time of the latest offence.

On the charge of drive motor vehicle during a period of disqualification, Mr Rodgers convicted Yatras and sentenced him to a community correction order of 12 months.

He was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and had his licence disqualified for six months.