An unlicensed drink-driver who took a friend’s mother’s car without permission to take two girls to a party is more than £1,000 poorer today.

Joshua Lawson was caught in a Red Suzuki Swift when he attempted to bluff his way into a music event at Rendlesham

Security guards called the police after the 23-year-old had become involved in a confrontation when he was asked what part he was playing in the event.

The contretemps led Ipswich magistrates to ban Lawson from driving for 12 months after he admitted four offences which occurred on January 4.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said Lawson, of Rectory Road, Dickleburgh, near Diss, had taken his friend’s mother’s car keys without consent.

He and his friend took the Suzuki to Bentwaters Park where there was a party.

On the way they went to Diss where they collected two girls.

When Lawson arrived at Bentwaters Park he told a security guard he was part of the sound crew.

However, the security guard smelled alcohol and police were called.

The court heard Lawson had accepted when speaking to police that he was not part of the sound crew.

He also admitted have two cans and two bottles of Stella lager.

A breath test showed he had 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Lawson did not have a driving licence at the time of the offence.

He had passed his test, but had acquired six points during his probationary period for having no insurance.

Since then he also had further points added for driving without a licence, and had been disqualified from driving.

When he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court Lawson pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without a licence, having no insurance and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Jeremy Kendall, representing Lawson, said: “This was effectively a misadventure. The plan was to take two ladies to a party at Bentwaters. My client accepts he did not have permission to take the vehicle. The plan was to take the vehicle and get back in time and no one would have been any the wiser.”

The court was told Lawson had miscalculated the amount of alcohol he had consumed before driving.

Mr Kendall added: “He’s had a bit of a chequered history on the road with his licence.”

In addition to his latest driving ban magistrates fined Lawson a total of £960 and ordered him to pay £32 to the victims’ fund and £85 costs.