A HARTFOD teenager was banned from driving after he took his mother s car and drove after drinking and without a driving licence. James Powell, 19, of Rodney Road, took the green Vauxhall Corsa early in the morning of March 21, Huntingdon Magistrates Cou

A HARTFOD teenager was banned from driving after he took his mother's car and drove after drinking and without a driving licence.

James Powell, 19, of Rodney Road, took the green Vauxhall Corsa early in the morning of March 21, Huntingdon Magistrates' Court was told.

Cambridgeshire police received a call at 5.30am saying that a car was being driven erratically around nearby Nelson Road.

Emma Duckett, prosecuting, said when police pulled Powell over he told them he had no driving licence or insurance, and when they contacted the registered owner of the car, his mother Christine Powell, she said he did not have permission to take it.

Officers could also smell alcohol on Powell's breath, and found him to have 92 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal drink drive limit is 35 micrograms.

Powell said he had drunk eight pints of lager and had taken his mother's car keys because he wanted to buy some cigarettes. In court last Thursday (April 2) he pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving without a licence, taking the car without the owner's consent and drink-driving.

Michelle Cheatle, representing Powell, said "he feels ashamed to have put his mother through this".

Magistrates ordered Powell to complete 120 hours of community work and to pay �65 in costs. He was banned from driving for 24 months.