Police stopped a Peugeot 206 travelling along Duke Street, Creswell, at 1am for a routine check and smelled alcohol on driver Jonathon Nicholson's breath.

He failed a roadside breath test and went on to give a reading of 61mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath - almost double the 35mcgs limit.

Chesterfield magistrates were told on Wednesday that Nicholson received a four-year road ban in 2002 when it was ruled that he must pass an extended driving test.

Becky Mahon, prosecuting, said he had not taken the re-test and the latest offence was his third conviction for drink-driving.

Nicholson (25), of Scarcliffe Grange, admitted driving while disqualfied and without insurance and drink-driving on 4th September.

Magistrates adjourned sentence for probation service reports after hearing he had also been previously convicted of driving while banned.

They warned that he could be jailed at the next hearing on 6th October.

Said Caroline Clarke, in mitigation: "He had been out with his girlfriend in her car. He took the decision to drive home because she had drunk more than he had.

"She didn't know he was disqualified and he believed the ban had expired. There was no allegation of poor driving on his part."

"He accepts he had not applied for a provisional licence."

The court was told that Nicholson lived with his parents and worked as a self-employed painter and decorator.