A DISQUALIFIED driver who took his boss's car home after drinking at a party has been jailed.

Lee Mcarthy, 25, of Tempest Mead, North Weald, was stopped by police on July 22 this year after they saw him swerving along the road and crossing the white line.

He gave a breath reading of 69mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath- more than twice the legal limit.

Harlow Magistrates Court heard that Mcarthy had been driven to a party that day by his employer who had then gone home, leaving his car keys.

He was then approached by a female friend who asked him to drive her home which he did, after taking his boss's car.

Mcarthy had previously been disqualified from driving until October 14 for driving without due care and attention.

Mitigating, Stuart Cooper said: “We're not talking about a young man in a hoodie driving around joy-riding cars. The vehicle belonged to his employer.

“He saw a friend of his having an argument with her boyfriend. She came to him very distraught and asked him to take her home. With hindsight the sensible thing was to give her money for a cab, but he took the keys and drove her home. He admits it was completely the wrong thing to do.

“He's fully admitted his responsibility to the police and pleaded guilty at the nearest opportunity. Since this incident he's stopped drinking socially.”

Mcarthy had earlier pleaded guilty to drink driving, driving while disqualified and taking a vehicle without consent.

He was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment and told he would serve half of that behind bars.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months which will be reduced by four months if he completes a course.