A MAN who drove his friend's van while over the drink-drive limit was caught by police after his friend mistakenly reported the vehicle stolen.

Paul Drew of Hall Place Farm, Stoke Lacy, Bromyard had been on a night out with a friend in Hereford on April 7.

Hereford Magistrates Court heard Drew and his friend had agreed to sleep in the van after the night out, but became separated during the evening.

Drew, 27, returned to the van and, realising his friend was not there, decided to drive around the block to look for him.

Meanwhile, his friend returned to the spot where the van had been and called police- reporting it stolen.

Officers stopped Drew on Queensway and breathalysed him- he had 52mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath- the legal limit is 35mg.

Drew pleaded guilty to drink-driving and using a car on a road without third party insurance. The court heard he will now lose his job as his employer depends on him to be able to drive.

Magistrates disqualified Drew from driving for 12 months, which can be reduced by three months if he takes a drink-drive rehabilitation course. He was fined £150 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He was given six penalty points for the driving without insurance charge.