A MAN with a history of driving offences has been acquitted of driving while disqualified.

Bournemouth Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday that Lee Hogben had been spotted by police driving a Ford Mondeo in Poole on August 21 this year, despite being banned from the road.

However magistrates ruled the Crown had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Hogben, 32, was driving the vehicle at the time, and the defendant was found not guilty of the offence and a related charge of driving without insurance.

The court heard he had six previous convictions for driving while disqualified, dating back to 2007, of which he had admitted five before trial.

"I am an innocent man this time, I am actually innocent," Hogben, of Egmont Road, Hamworthy, told the court.

"On this occasion I was not driving any motor vehicle. On the day in question I was going to Tesco and I was going to see my girlfriend.

"Because I am clearly known for driving - you heard the evidence - they believed it was me."

In their ruling, magistrates said they believed the police officer who had identified Hogben as the driver was an "honest witness" but mistaken. Also they expressed "surprise" that no other evidence had been submitted by the Crown.

Prosecuting, Marianna Lo Conte told the court police officers, acting on a supposed sighting of Hogben driving a vehicle in the area, began following the Mondeo in Magna Road at around 12.30pm.

Police Constable David Leonard told the court the car took "avoiding action" and entered the Hamworthy Sports Club Complex car park before making a u-turn and giving him a view of the driver.

"I identified the person I knew to be Lee Hogben as the driver," he said. "I have met Lee on many occasions through various incidents."

He said he could identify Hogben despite the driver's sunglasses.

Officers did not pursue the vehicle, but around 20 minutes later Hogben was spotted by the NPAS helicopter at a bus stop in Mannings Heath Road and arrested by police brandishing a Taser.

Representing Hogben, Debra Scudamore put it to the officer that he was "honestly mistaken" and had only 'seen' Hogben in the car due to his expectations arising from the initial report and the defendant's reputation. He denied this.

She asked why forensic evidence had not been collected from the vehicle once it was recovered, however he was unable to answer.

Hogben has a history of driving offences. In October last year he was handed a six month jail term for dangerous driving after ramming a police car in Ringwood Road, Poole, and in February 2012 he was disqualified for ten years after stealing a refuse lorry and leading officers on a 70 mile chase across the county.