A DRINK driver yesterday ran out of aliases he used to keep himself out of jail.

Stephen Mitchell, 24, of Alington Road, Newton Aycliffe, who had nine aliases on his criminal record and five convictions for driving with excess alcohol, was jailed for nine months at Teesside Crown Court. He was also banned from driving for three years.

Richard Bennett, mitigating, said that Mitchell continually gave false names because he was terrified of going to prison for the first time.

But a probation officer recognised him in court when he was claiming to be Stephen Robinson. Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said: "For six months he had maintained that he was another person.

"He gave false names to the police and to the courts and the real Stephen Robinson, who had no previous convictions, could have been in jeopardy when Mitchell failed to turn up for sentence."

Mitchell also gave a false name when he was caught on security cameras stealing from the HMV store in Darlington, but he soon admitted his real identity.

Mr Bennett said: "He took a risk, he lost, and he now has to face the consequences of his actions.

"The motivation was to avoid prison because that has always been his biggest fear, and this will be his first custodial sentence.

"There is a background of anxiety and depression, which may give some explanation but no excuse for what he has done."

Judge Peter Armstrong told Mitchell: "The whole purpose for this was to avoid what is now going to happen. It's time you grew up."

Mitchell pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, two charges of attempting to pervert justice, driving while disqualified and with excess alcohol, and theft between May and December last year.