A Smith’s man who was caught driving while disqualified has claimed that he was on the way to a relative’s funeral.

Tomiko Goater, 20, was stopped by police while travelling by motorcycle along Frog Lane in Devonshire around 9.40pm on August 12, despite being banned from the road between March 22 and September 21 for a prior offence.

Today in Magistrates’ Court, Goater’s lawyer Marc Daniels claimed extenuating circumstances for the incident.

Mr Daniels said that his client had been going to the funeral of Travis Lowe, 23, who was seriously injured on July 26 when his motorcycle collided with an oncoming van in Southampton.

It is believed that Mr Lowe, who died from his injuries on August 2, was trying to evade a pursuer in a high-speed, gang-related chase prior to his accident.

Goater said that he could not find a ride to attend his cousin’s memorial service, which is why he decided to drive himself despite his disqualification from the road.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo sentenced him to 30 days in prison, consecutive to his current sentence of 10 days, suspended for two years.

He extended the defendant’s driving ban by two months and fined him $1,000, ordering Goater to pay the amount in full by November 4 or face 100 days in prison in desfault.

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