A DRINK-driver who pretended to be his own brother when stopped by police, was banned from driving yesterday.

Ian Ditchburn, 38, had drunk twice the legal limit when he was stopped at about 3am on February 1, Darlington magistrates heard.

As he drove his girlfriend's Ford Fiesta, in Duke Street, Darlington, officers saw him hit the curb, then veer into the middle of the road.

Jacqueline Gibson, prosecuting, said Ditchburn told officers that he was his brother, John, and gave his year of birth as 1970.

The officer smelled alcohol on his breath and he was breathalised, which showed he was over the limit.

John Wager, in mitigation, said Ditchburn had decided to drive his girlfriend home after she became unwell.

He said: "This matter is complicated by the virtue that my client looks virtually identical to his brother.

"The police officer assumed he was John Ditchburn and Ian went along with it.

"He apologises to the court and everybody for misleading them and for driving the car in the first place, but it was something of an emergency."

Ditchburn, of Hopetown Lane Darlington, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance, without a licence and obstructing a police officer.

He was disqualified from driving for 20 months and fined £234.