There was a late Christmas present for a 48-year-old man at Wirral Magistrates Court.

Nigel Wynne, of Stanley Lane, Eastham, appeared in the dock charged with driving while banned in the Kingsway Tunnel in May.

District Judge Nick Sanders discontinued the matter because the papers had not been served in time and Wynne walked free.

“Happy Christmas”, said defence lawyer Gerald Pachter to Wynne as he left the court room.