A MAN who ignored his drink-driving ban by taking a car without consent before crashing it into another vehicle and a fence has been spared jail.

Steven Gillett, of Elliott Street, Ipswich, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and not having insurance, when he appeared in court.

Gillett had denied the offences, but pleaded guilty on the day of his scheduled trial at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

The 22-year-old took a friend’s Vauxhall Corsa, which was parked in Prentice Way, Ipswich, between 1am and 1.10am on May 5.

Gillett has previously been out in Ipswich town centre and had been due to stay at the friend’s house, but took the keys to the Vauxhall and drove off.

He was seen driving the vehicle before losing control after rounding a corner, and crashing it into a Ford Focus and a fence in Bull Road.

After the accident Gillett ran off. He was detained by police in Old Cattle Market at 2.40am.

Magistrates gave him an eight-week jail sentence, which was suspended for 12 months.

He must also undertake a thinking skills programme as part of his sentence.

Gillett was originally banned from driving in December last year after another accident in a car he had taken without permission, while drunk.

He handed himself into police after crashing a Ford Focus into a lamppost in Yarmouth Road, Ipswich.

The novice driver, who lived in Prentice Way at the time, phoned police after the incident.

He admitted he had been drinking earlier in the day, and only had a provisional licence.

A subsequent breath test indicated Gillett had 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

When he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court Gillett admitted aggravated vehicle taking, drink-driving, having no insurance, and driving not in accordance with a licence. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay �500 compensation. He was also fined �100 and told to pay �85 costs.

Gillett also had to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work and abide by a curfew from 7pm to 7am.