A DISQUALIFIED driver who crashed his partner’s car while drunk has been spared jail.

Darren Wilkinson was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison after admitting driving while disqualified, while drunk and without insurance, but magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, suspended it for 18 months.

The 27-year-old of Wheatfield Gardens in Crook was also banned from driving for a further five years and ordered to pay £165 in costs and court charges after the incident on July 24.

Prosecutor John Garside said firefighters found a Renault Clio on its side near Bishop Auckland Rugby Club at about 2am.

Police were called and the car was traced to Wilkinson’s partner, who lived around two minutes away from the crash site.

When officers went to the address they saw Wilkinson, who made to run away but was arrested after a 30 second chase, Mr Garside said.

Wilkinson admitted to the officers that he had crashed the car and claimed he had hit a stone boulder after swerving to avoid a horse, the court heard.

He was taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries he received in the crash where he was found to have 114mlg of blood in 100ml of blood, the legal limit being 80mlg.

The court heard Wilkinson had been banned from driving for five years in 2010.

Liam Brison for Wilkinson said his client was in an emotional state at the time and is taking anti-depressants.

He said his client suffered a panic attack after drinking and took the car without his girlfriend’s knowledge.