A HALESOWEN man has been jailed for 16 weeks after admitting a string of drug and driving offences.

Magistrates jailed Rakash Lal for a ‘flagrant disregard’ for court orders after the 38-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and cannabis resin in Rowley Regis on May 27.

He also admitted driving a Nissan Qashqai on Homer Way without insurance and while disqualified.

Lal, of Kent Road, Halesowen, was disqualified from holding a driving licence for 50 months at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on May 28 and was also ordered to pay a £128 surcharge.

Also at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court last week, a Dudley man was banned from getting behind the wheel for five years and jailed for 20 weeks after admitting driving a Transit van while disqualified.

Jonathan Shead, of Watsons Green Road, also pleaded guilty to driving the van without a test certificate or insurance when stopped by police on May 26. The 30-year-old also admitted obstructing a police constable in his duty when he appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on May 27.

He was jailed for 20 weeks due to persistent vehicle related offending and was ordered to pay a court bill totalling £763.

Also before magistrates, a Quarry Bank man was hit with a court bill after stealing chocolate, worth £220, from a Co-Op.

Steven Messe, of Thornhill Road, admitted stealing the treats from a store in Stourbridge at a hearing at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on May 28.

The 30-year-old was hit with a community order with a rehabilitation requirement and was also ordered to pay £220 in compensation.

Meanwhile, a Netherton man was hit with a 20-week jail term after he was found guilty of driving offences in Sedgley.

John Field was found guilty of driving an Audi on High Holborn in Sedgley while disqualified from driving. The 30-year-old was also found guilty of driving without insurance at a hearing before magistrates on May 28.

Field, of Summerfield Road, was jailed for 20 weeks due to disregarding court orders and a record of previous offending. Magistrates also disqualified Field from getting behind the wheel for 12 months and ordered him to pay a £122 surcharge.