Last updated 16:00, Wednesday, 25 June 2008

A MAN who had no previous convictions told a court he had a “moment of madness” when he took a car without consent and was unfit to drive it through drugs.

Paul William Shepherd, 25, of Hill Top Road, Kells, Whitehaven, admitted driving not in accordance with a licence, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, driving while unfit through drugs and using it without insurance.

Whitehaven magistrates ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and he was disqualified from driving for two years.

Prosecutor John Coffell told the court that Shepherd was seen by staff at the Esso garage, in Coach Road, staggering to his vehicle and driving off.

Police carried out a computer check on the vehicle and found it belonged to a woman at Esk Avenue. They found Shepherd at the address. He was arrested and taken to a police station where he failed a field impairment test.

Shepherd did not have permission to take the vehicle which belonged to his partner’s mother. He was found to have temazepam and cocaine in his system.

Representing himself, he told the court he had had an argument with his girlfriend, describing his actions as “a moment of madness”. He was made to pay £55 costs.