A MAN who brought his cat to court twice to face drink-drive charges has been jailed.

David Andrew Copeland attended Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court with his cat, Bertie, on two separate occasions, but was told both times to take the pet home and return to court.

The 56-year-old, of Bowman Street, Darlington, did eventually attend without his feline friend to face three driving offences.

Jonathan Moore, prosecuting, said: “At 10.55am on April 11 this year police were drawn to a yellow LDV van being driven in Darlington.

“The van travelled along Bowman Street, onto Lowson Street and down an alleyway where it mounted a kerb.

"Police stopped the van and asked the defendant to turn off the ignition and he appeared to struggle to do so.

"He struggled to get out of the vehicle and a road side breath test showed 93mg of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35mg."

The court heard the defendant was banned from driving and had been sentenced to 16 weeks in prison in November for previously driving whilst disqualified.

Copeland pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified again, driving whilst over the legal drink-drive limit and driving without insurance.

Nick Woodhouse mitigating, said his client was driving a very short distance to move his van from the front of his house to the back.

He said: "He had bought the van the day prior with the intention of doing it up, it was a bit of a project for when he was back driving.

"He was driving 40 metres tops to the back of his house, he has a large garden and was going to keep the vehicle there.

"He accepts that he was over the limit and recognises that he has a problem with alcohol. He got up, had his breakfast, felt ok to drive so moved the vehicle. It was a very short distance."

However, Judge Tim Capstick told Copeland he shouldn't have had the vehicle in the first place.

He said: "You have relevant previous convictions, you were disqualified by this court and you chose to drive again in drink.

"Last year you were caught driving whilst disqualified and later in the year you were caught again, driving whilst disqualified and eventually in November the court locked you up. And here you are again doing exactly the same thing.

"I appreciate what is said on your behalf, you say you were only driving a short distance but the fact of the matter is you should not have been driving at all because you got a 58 month disqualification.

"It's apparent you have health issues and you are alcohol dependant but if you choose to drink and drive when you are banned you will keep going into custody."

Copeland was jailed for 16 weeks and banned from driving for four years and eight weeks.