Divine backing

A lay preacher caught driving without insurance claimed God would protect him from having accidents, CPS News, the Crown Prosecution Service's staff magazine, reported recently.

Peter David, 66, told magistrates in south Wales that he did not need road tax or an MoT for the same reason.

He was flagged down by police when they spotted a home-made number plate - DEUT 818 - on his car.

This refers to the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 8, verse 18, which declares that God is the only source of power.

Unsurprisingly, this argument did not fly down at Neath Magistrates' Court, which ordered him to pay 758.75 in fines, costs and back duty.

Mr David, who refused to give evidence or apologise, told the court that he did not expect to pay.

As he may have said, the Lord is my traffic warden.