A MAN has been banned from driving after riding a stolen £16,000 tractor in Evesham.

Kevin Hall, of North End, Pinvin, near Pershore, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, September 8.

Samreen Akhtar, prosecuting, told district judge Nigel Cadbury that police were alerted after the Massey Ferguson tractor was stolen.

Officers spotted the tractor travelling on the A422 from Upton Snodsbury to Worcester on August 15.

Miss Akhtar said the tractor was followed until it pulled over when the driver, identified as Hall, transferred to another vehicle. Police then pulled up and arrested the 35-year-old.

In his interview, Hall said he was offered £200 to do "a job" moving the tractor from Throckmorton airfield to another location, and was remorseful for his actions.

David Howarth, defending, said there was no suggestion Hall had been involved in the theft of the vehicle, and had felt "pressurised" into committing the actions due to debts he needed to pay.

"He has got no record (of previous offending)," Mr Howarth said.

"He owned up from the very start."

Sentencing, Mr Cadbury said Hall was "very fortunate" to have only been charged with driving a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, and using a vehicle on a road without insurance - explaining if he had been charged with handling stolen goods he would have been facing a prison sentence.

Due to this, Mr Cadbury said he was using his discretionary power and was disqualifying Hall from driving for six months.

Hall was given a 12 month community order, with a five-day rehabilitation period in which he will receive help for his financial problems.

Hall was also ordered to pay costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £85.