FOUR people have been reprimanded in court over the last two months after being caught using a mobile phone while driving.

All of the cases were heard at Preston magistrates’ court between August 9 and October 6, where each of the defendants were fined and points were endorsed on each of their driving records.

The names of the four drivers are:

1. Benjamin Hargreaves, 31, of St Johns Street, Darwen

On February 14 at Blackburn Road, Darwen, Hargreaves was not only caught using his mobile phone but driving uninsured and without a licence.

He was driving a white 62-plate Vauxhall Astra at the time and was fined a total of £816 for all three offences. Eight penalty points were also endorsed on his driving record.

The fine had to be paid in full by 28 September.

2. Shaun Booth, 32, of Haslingden Old Road, Rossendale

On September 2, 2020 at Whitebirk Drive, Blackburn, Booth was caught using his mobile phone while driving a white 13-plate Volkswagen Transporter van. He was also found to have insufficient tread depth on one of the vans tyres.

He was fined a total of £617 for the two offences and began paying £50 monthly instalments on September 6, 2021.

His driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points and his guilty plea was taken into account when sentencing.

3. Christian Baron, 45, of Limes Avenue, Darwen

On March 5 at London Way, Preston, Baron was caught using his mobile phone while driving a black 65-plate Vauxhall Zafira.

Baron was fined a total of £344 and six penalty points were added to his driving licence.

He has until October 12 to pay the fine in full.

4. John Andrew, 45, of Rose Street, Rossendale

Andrew was caught using his mobile phone while driving a red 56-plate Ford Transit van at Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors on 28 March, 2020.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was ‘proved guilty in absence’.

Andrew was fined £342 and six penalty points were added to his driving licence.

The fine had to be paid in full by September 17.