A COURT has backed the DVLA's decision to revoke the driving licence of a Weymouth motorist who drove ‘aggressively’.

Jack Oliver Michael Reece tried to evade officers as he drove his black Volkswagen Golf in Chapelhay, and gave them the ‘middle finger’ on March 30 last year when they asked him to stop, Weymouth Magistrates Court heard.

Reece, who the court heard has ‘anger issues’, ended up abandoning the car and running away, but was caught in a nearby garden.

The 21-year-old, of Corporation Road, also admitted a second offence of driving without due care and attention while behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta with a passenger on November 5, 2019. He had been spotted by police driving down a no-entry road near Hope Square.

On March 5, Reece appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court. He was told he would keep his licence after magistrates weighed in favour of an exceptional hardship defence - after hearing Reece is running his family’s removal company.

At that hearing, Siobhan Oxley, prosecuting, told the court: "On March 30 he drove a black Golf and was asked to stop by police after driving aggressively in Franchise Street.

“He gestured to police offices with his middle finger after they asked him to stop. He then reversed down St Leonard’s Road at high speed before changing direction where he spun and screeched his wheels.

"He left the car and was chased by police on foot where he was arrested in a nearby garden."

At the hearing, Reece’s licence was endorsed with six penalty points, giving him a total of 15 points. But due to exceptional hardship he was able to drive legally. He was fined £400 and ordered to pay £170 costs and a £64 victim surcharge.

However, since the initial sentencing, the DVLA - the Government’s driving authority - overturned the court’s decision and revoked Reece's licence.

At an appeal hearing Reece was told the court would not reopen the case and his licence would remain revoked.

Chair of the bench Sara Saunders said: “We don’t find any reason to reopen the case. It’s a no - that is that, we have made our decision."

Following the court’s decision, Reece said: “It’s unfair. It’s public humiliation and it’s stressful.”

Reece can now only drive with learner plates and must be supervised alongside a driver who has a full licence until he can take another test to regain his licence.