A DRIVER already banned for 49 years and disqualified eight times was jailed for six months and banned from driving for ten years on his latest court appearance.

The offender was so fanatical about cars that he changed his name to Cosworth, the name of a famously fast production car, and also named his children after other Ford models.

And lawyers were so concerned about Steven Cosworth's obsession that they called in a psychiatrist to ensure he was sane and fit to plead.

Cosworth, 30, of Ranelagh Road, Weymouth, admitted driving without a valid licence or insurance when he appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court.

The court heard that he had only been released from a 16-week jail sentence imposed at Oxford Magistrates Court shortly before his arrest at the wheel in Earl Grey Street, Mauchline, Ayrshire, on July 29.

Peter Lockhart, defending, told the court his client was "a man with various problems."

He added: "By my calculations he has been banned from driving for 49 years and been disqualified eight times.

"He has a fascination with cars and has been under psychiatric observation in Weymouth."

Cosworth, who has four pages of previous convictions including assault and breach of the peace, had been in Scotland to visit his mother and see his children.

Mr Lockhart said: "He fully accepts that he should not have been driving."

Cosworth had a record of 31 separate court appearances for a total of 79 offences and since 1994 he had 13 convictions for driving while disqualified.