Michael George Vanfossen, of Lee Street Molong, appeared via video link to answer to a charge of driving while disqualified, his third court appearance this year.

Court documents showed he first faced court in January for driving with an illicit drug in his system and then disqualified for a further year in April for driving disqualified.

But on August 27, police again pulled over the 28-year-old, who was driving a black Holden Commodore on Elsham Avenue.

Legal Aid solicitor Peter Ringbauer told the court his client had spent 14 days on remand and he had never received a custodial penalty before.

“He is a low risk of reoffending,” he said.

Magistrate Terry Lucas gave Vanfossen a 12-month suspended sentence in addition to the disqualification period. 

“If you wish to stay out of custody, don’t breach court orders,” he said.

“If you drive, jail is your only option now.”

Tenisha Lee Donnelly was also disqualified from driving for two years for driving while disqualified and given an 18-month good behaviour bond for a charge of take and drive conveyance after she took her former partner’s Holden sedan and drove it to Dubbo with a co-accused.

Police said officers were called to Regent Park Road at 4.15am on July 31 when the two women were spotted acting suspiciously. 

Officers searched the Leumeah Road resident and found the keys and the women admitted they knew Donnelly did not have permission to take the car.

Donnelly’s MERIT report revealed the 22-year-old had been drinking alcohol since she was 13, consuming up to 18 drinks a day, and she had been taken a point of methamphetamine a day for the past 18 months, but she had achieved abstinence.

Mr Ringbaurer, who also acted for Donnelly, said she was expecting a child and had turned her life around.

“She certainly appears to be a changed woman,” he said.