A YOUNG Tiverton pub employee took his manager's Transit van without him knowing and while over the drink-drive limit.

Isaac Vincent, 21, of High Street, Tattenhall, was also uninsured and had an existing driving ban.

At Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, August 17, Vincent was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and banned from driving for three years.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds told the court Vincent had previously received a 14-month driving ban in February for drink-driving.

The Ford Transit Connect van Vincent took on July 29 belonged to his employer Robert Skellern at the Shady Oak pub in Tiverton.

Police stopped him on the A49 in Tarporley and he and another unknown man got out of the vehicle. However, the other man ran away before police could make further queries and was unable to be located.

Vincent failed a breath test and was arrested.

The vehicle also contained a small quantity of cannabis and digital scales which Vincent accepted he owned.

In police custody, Vincent's lowest breath test was 50 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, compared to the legal limit of 35.

When interviewed by police, Vincent admitted all offences and knew he was over the limit, having had four pints.

The previous drink-driving offence from February was when he took a Vauxhall Astra and crashed the car, with the vehicle ending up on its roof.

Defending, Joe Bleasdale said: "This is a young man who has accepted how serious this is."

He was a "model employee" who had two jobs, and had completed 137 hours out his previous 200-hour unpaid work requirement.

Mr Bleasdale added: "He has an awful lot going for him and respectfully asks that the probation service helps him."

In addition to the suspended jail term and driving ban, Vincent must complete a further 100 hours unpaid work and complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He must pay £85 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge, and the cannabis and digital scales were to be forfeited and destroyed.