A DRIVER who ploughed his brother’s car into a bush was banned from the roads for FIVE years after a court heard of his history of getting behind the wheel while over the legal alcohol limit.

Anthony Reid, 37, was found by police in the driver’s seat of his brother’s Toyota, in Bures Road, West Bergholt.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard the car had left the road and was “fully wedged” in a bush.

The vehicle had suffered damage to a wheel arch.

Reid, who had got behind the wheel without valid insurance, was found to be more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

A roadside breathalyser test recorded 81mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

When he was hauled into custody, he failed to submit to a blood test after an error with the breathalyser machine.

Reid, of King Edward Quay, Colchester, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

The court heard Reid had two previous convictions within the past ten years for drink driving.

Fatimah Dhorowa, mitigating, said Reid has a drinking problem which he had tried to address on numerous occasions.

“He knows he shouldn’t have taken the car,” she said.

“He tells me the reason he ended up in the bush is he tried to swerve to avoid hitting a fox and away from incoming traffic and ended up in the bush.

“He says the car was given to him by his brother in order to repair.”

Imposing a five-year ban, magistrates also ordered Reid to complete an alcohol treatment requirement, a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a thinking skills programme.

He must also pay £360 in fines and costs.