A MAN who stole his girlfriend’s car following a drunken argument has been banned from driving for three years.

Lee Steven Hardy, of Chapelfields Road, York, appeared at York Magistrates Court yesterday on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle-taking, driving without a licence or insurance and driving while more than three times the legal limit.

Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, said Hardy, 36, had returned to his home from the pub and argued with his girlfriend. He said he Hardy had collided with a wall and a car in the car park of Tesco at Askham Bar, and was “confrontational” with police officers following a short pursuitt, before admitting he had taken the car while drunk.

The court heard Hardy’s breathalyser test was 116 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than three times the legal drink- drive limit of 35mg per 100ml.

Kevin Blount, for Hardy, said his client had not caused significant damage to the parked vehicle, and had paid to repair the damaged wall. A report by the probation service recommended Hardy should be issued with a 12-month community order, however Magistrate Christine Dennis handed Hardy the magistrates did not feel that was strong enough.

She said: “It has been a very near thing, to send you to prison today.

“You will have a two-year supervision order and ordered him to take part in a programme intended to stop you binge drinking for ten sessions.

Hardy was also given a curfew of four months between 7pm and 7am which will be electronically monitored.

He ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge.