A DISQUALIFIED driver got behind the wheel of his friend's car after drinking, a court was told.

Paul McGregor, 45, of Cloverdale, Whinfield, Darlington, was given a four-month suspended sentence and banned from driving for five years after he admitted drink-driving and driving while disqualified.

Barry Smith, prosecuting, told Darlington magistrates yesterday that McGregor had previously been banned for three years for drink-driving. He had one month of the ban left to run when he was caught this time. A test gave a reading of 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The court heard that McGregor had been to a pub with a friend on August 11. On leaving, his friend asked him if he would drive him home because he had drunk too much.

McGregor had had two pints of lager, but did not believe he was over the limit.

Laura Saunders-Jerrom, mitigating, said: "When his friend asked if he would drive him home, my client no longer thought he was banned, but originally refused because he wasn't insured. However, his friend said his insurance covered anyone who drove his car and so he decided to drive."