Banned driver Darren Estabrooke was in no mood to walk home after a boozy pub session.
So the 29-year-old got his partner to take his Ford Fiesta to the pub car park and give him the ignition keys.
But after Estabrooke drove away from the pub he was stopped by police and found to be one and a half times over the drink-drive limit.
His solicitor, Mark Pearson, told Basildon magistrates: "He did not want to leave the car at the pub. He was worried it might get damaged."
Estabrooke, of Chalvedon Avenue, Pitsea, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive offence, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
He was jailed for two months and disqualified from driving for 12 months. Estabrooke also owed £600 in court fines for previous offending but was allowed to wipe them out by serving a further day in prison.
Published Monday January 5, 2004
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