A TV licence is a tax on TV ownership, for which you become liable by owning a TV, rather than a licence to watch television. It's entirely possible to own an untaxed, un-MOTed, uninsured motor vehicle, not have a driving licence, and still not break the law (because you never drive on the road, or you have a chauffeur, Harvey Jones style, or whatever). However, it would be rare, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to coordinate DVLA with local plod so that a visit is made when an unlicenced driver buys a car.
None of which alters the fact that this driver had been caught driving while banned 11 times.