A DOTING boyfriend tried to surprise his partner by taking her car to go and buy groceries despite not having a valid licence.

Jamie Harvey, of Princess Street, Parkeston, took his girlfriend's Ford Fiesta without her permission while she was in the shower with the intention of having food and nappies for their young child once she got out.

But Harvey, 24, was pulled over by police in nearby Parkeston Road, and told officers his partner had not allowed him to drive the vehicle.

At Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Harvey admitted taking the car without consent, and driving without a licence or insurance.

Mitigating, for Harvey, Evelyn Hicks said: "He wanted to go and get shopping and groceries so when he came back his girlfriend would be pleased with him.

"In, fact she was very displeased.

"There was no evidence of poor driving and it was a simple error of judgement in trying to do a good deed for his family.

"His partner has been reminding him what could happen if he had an accident while uninsured.

"She has now just about forgiven him."

Harvey has held a driving licence previously but it was revoked after he accrued six penalty points within two years of passing his test.

For the new matters, which occurred on November 2, magistrates fined him £190.

He will also pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.