UK's most-convicted motorist jailed

Britain's most convicted motorist has been jailed for eight months.

Jamie Manderson, 35, was also handed a five-year driving ban after he pleaded guilty for driving while disqualified in his home town of Swindon. It's his 52nd conviction for doing so.

Chief magistrate Norman Ames said: 'You have a flagrant disregard for the law. This is the worst case of driving while disqualified, in total, we have come across.'

Manderson was first banned from driving in 1988, at the age of 15. He has never held a driving licence and has 51 convictions for driving while disqualified and 51 more for connected offences of driving without insurance. Other convictions include aggravated vehicle-taking and dangerous driving.

In 1998 he hit a 12-year-old cyclist as he drove a getaway car following a robbery.

Rob Ross, Manderson's solicitor, described his client as 'a likeable idiot'.

He said: 'He still has a problem with motor cars. He always will.'

Meanwhile, Manderson is awaiting trial for two more charges of driving while disqualified, which he denies. A pre-trial hearing will take place in May.