Jilted Matthew Savill acted in "a moment of madness" when he got a call from his girlfriend at a nightclub.

Savill, nearly three times over the drink-drive limit, jumped in his car and went looking for her.

Instead, the law got to the 18-year-old art student first.

Police had seen him driving erratically in the middle of Southend as people were pouring out of late-night clubs.

He was driving so badly that it was a miracle nobody was killed, a judge told him.

Savill, of Crowstone Road, Westcliff, pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

He was given a lenient 21-day sentence after Judge Philip Clegg heard Savill worked tirelessly to help elderly people.

The judge told him: "Until now you have been a worthwhile person.

"I have no doubt you will be of great value to the community in the future.

"However, this was an appalling piece of driving and it is a miracle nobody was killed or injured that night. It was a stupid decision to drive."

Savill's barrister Christopher Paxton said the defendant had driven in a moment on madness after a blazing row with his girlfriend.

He had downed half a bottle of vodka and some cans of bitter when he received a phone call from the girl to say she was at a nightclub.

Mr Paxton went on: "He acted completely out of character and behaved the way he did because he thought he could win his girlfriend back."

Savill, said by the barrister to come from a good home, was also banned from driving for two years.

The judge ordered him to re-take an extended driving test when the disqualification period has ended.

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