A MAN who was caught driving around Bendigo without a valid licence has been fined more than $1000.
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Jason Benbow, 32, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to charges including driving while disqualified and breaching an interlock condition.
The court heard on the afternoon of November 23, 2019, police intercepted Benbow on High Street in Kangaroo Flat after they saw him using his mobile phone while driving.
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Police checks of his vehicle showed while the 32-year-old had an interlock condition on his licence, he did not have the device installed in his vehicle.
Benbow's licence was also cancelled at the time of the offending and his car registration had expired a month prior.
The 32-year-old admitted to the breaches and told police he had been speaking to his brother on the phone when they intercepted him.
Then on May 16 last year, police again intercepted Benbow on Somerville Street in Flora Hill.
Checks showed his car still did not have an interlock device installed. The 32-year-old told police the device had been fitted to his other vehicle, but that car had "blown up".
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Defence lawyer Christine Callaghan told the court Benbow's interlock condition had since expired.
Ms Callaghan noted her client was due to face court again later this year for a drink driving offence, so his licence was already suspended.
Magistrate Patrick Southey said Benbow "advertised" himself to police when he used his mobile phone while driving.
Mr Southey said while the offending was serious enough to warrant a community corrections order, he would instead convict and fine Benbow $1200.
"It's really important that you don't drive," the magistrate said. "You have to be smarter about the decisions you make. You will go to jail if you don't change."
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