Britian's worst motorist has been jailed after clocking up road bans totalling 44 years.

Raymond Beecham, 54, was also disqualified until 2037 - when he will be 82 years old.

Since 1973, the year he passed his L-test, Beecham has been caught drink-driving six times - and handed bans adding up to 44 years and six months at 12 separate court appearances.

Beecham, of Croydon, South London, was sentenced to 4˝ months' jail this week after admitting driving while disqualified and without insurance.

After the hearing at Greenwich Magistrates' Court, a traffic cop said: "He must be the worst driver in Britain - he's flouted the law for his entire motoring career."

RAC spokesman Adrian Tink added: "He's clearly a menace. An example needs to be made of him on behalf of all honest, law-abiding motorists."