A 26-year-old disqualified driver desperate to have his wife and child join him from Pakistan got behind the wheel because he did not want to lose his job.

Blackburn magistrates heard Raheem Hussain was stopped as he drove home from his work as a care assistant.

And Roger Pickles, defending, said the lengths to which Hussain was having to go in an attempt to unite his family gave lie to the view the UK had an open door policy on immigration.

Mr Pickles said Hussain’s wife and baby were not allowed to join him in the UK until he could show he was earning over £800 a month and that he had suitable accommodation and he would have to pay a fee for that to be inspected.

He said Hussain usually got a lift to work with his sister but she was away and he foolishly fell to temptation and took her car.

“He took a stupid risk because if he didn’t go in another month would have gone by when his pay slip didn’t reach the required amount,” he added.

Hussain, 26, of Higher Antley Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody suspended for 15 months and ordered to pay £85 costs.