A DISQUALIFIED driver has been jailed after he crashed his partner’s car into a house whilst more than twice the drink drive limit.

Liam Wigham had drunk a half litre of whisky before taking the keys to his partner’s Volvo S60 and driving it at speed along McMullen Road, Darlington, at about 9.20pm on Monday, January 29.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard that the self-employed plasterer lost control of the car and it ploughed through a fence before smashing into the house.

The 24-year-old from Hewitson Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to five charges when he appeared in court yesterday – aggravated taking without consent, driving whilst disqualified, driving a vehicle without due care and attention, no insurance and drink driving.

The court heard that the defendant was already serving a driving ban, which was due to end in March, as well as being subject to a suspended sentence for a similar offence. Ben Pegman, mitigating, said: “He is extremely remorseful for these actions and that remorse was expressed very early to his partner – he was full and frank when he got back to her house. He apologised immediately and put right his actions when he purchased another car for her. He accepts the car is not as good as the one that was written off but it is a car nonetheless.

“He was never a problem drinker, he conceded that he did come home from work and have a drink and on this occasion he drank too much whisky and hasn’t drank since the offence.”

A probation report into his offending highlighted that he was currently subject to a suspended sentence after a car he and an accomplice took without the owner’s consent was discovered burnt out in October 2016.

The court heard that Wigham’s partner and her parents were in the public gallery supporting him throughout the hearing.

District Judge Helen Cousins said she had no alternative but to consider a custodial sentence due to the serious nature of the offences.

Sentencing Wigham to 12 weeks in prison for aggravated vehicle taking, the judge added an additional two weeks for the breach of a suspended sentence and two four week concurrent sentences for drink driving and driving whilst disqualified.

She said: “For this matter, this was a very high reading for alcohol whilst you were disqualified and driving without due car and attention – it just couldn’t get any worse.”

Wigham was also banned from driving for 18 months, which will be activated upon his release. He was also ordered to serve an extra day in custody as he was unable to pay a £115 victim surcharge.