A MAN has been banned from driving – after admitting having 11 people in his car.

When police stopped Kenneth Samuels’ Ford Focus they found four adults and seven children, three sitting in the footwells.

Llandudno Magistrates chair David Davies told him: “How you could put young children – as young as three – at such risk beggars belief.”

Prosecutor James Neary said at 9.25pm on August 4 CCTV operators saw the car enter Colwyn Bay railway station and Samuels and others load bags and camping equipment into the boot.

The seven children and three adults then headed towards Rhos-on-Sea, where another man was picked up.

When stopped one passenger ran away and Samuels then drove off before being stopped again. The adults were wearing seatbelts, one infant was in a child’s seat, three aged about three were in the front and rear footwells and the other three aged 10-12 were squeezed between the adults.

Mr Neary said. “What was also remarkable was that he chose not to give the children the seatbelts.”

Samuels, aged 52, of Gwenfro, Wrexham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving but denied anyone had run away from his car.

He was at home and received a call from his ex-partner asking him to give them a lift to a Conwy Valley campsite having been evicted from one site and having no money.

Samuels borrowed his brother’s car but had no idea how many people were waiting for him.

“Initially it was a Good Samaritan act,” said his solicitor David Jones. Samuels had suggested that they take a taxi but they had no money at all, so he agreed to take them.

“He should have said ‘no’ but didn’t because there were children and they were screaming and hungry,” said the solicitor. “It was a foolish decision and he is genuinely remorseful.”

Banning Samuels from driving for 15 months, Mr Davies said a custodial sentence had seriously been considered.

The Bench imposed a 6pm – 6am curfew for four months, costs of £85 and an £85 surcharge plus an extended test before driving again.