A DISQUALIFIED driver, who drove his dad’s car while on drugs, has been sentenced to 22 weeks in prison at Halton Magistrates Court.

Mark Maguire, of Marshall Avenue, Dallam, was arrested after police were called to a crash on Folly Lane on November 12.

The 24-year-old, who has already been banned from driving, was pointed out as the driver of one of the cars involved in the collision.

Police checks revealed that he was not qualified to drive and did not have insurance.

The court heard that Maguire appeared to be under the influence and was asked to take a breathalyser test at the side of the road.

He was later arrested for driving while unfit on drugs.

Prosecuting Sarah Gray said the defendant later told police that he had only had a joint earlier that morning.

His defence argued that Maguire was at home and he wanted to go to the job centre so took his dad’s car while he was out of the house.

“He will be the first to admit that this was extremely foolish of him. He had not taken a lot of drugs. It was a joint on the day in question,” he added.

He pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs, using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance, taking a motor vehicle without consent and driving whilst disqualified.

Maguire, who has a number of previous convictions, was also in breach of an 18 week sentence, which was suspended for 18 months, for assault.

The court ordered that his 18 week suspended sentence be activated and was given four weeks in prison to be served consecutively for driving while unfit.

He was also handed four weeks for driving while disqualified and four weeks for taking the vehicle without consent, to be served concurrently.

He received a conditional discharge for driving without insurance and was disqualified from driving for 36 months.