A MAN who was caught drink-driving only five months after being convicted for a similar offence has been sent to prison.

York Magistrates' Court was told that disqualified driver Stuart James Reid, 25, of Rose Tree Grove, New Earswick, York, was stopped by police after he was seen driving his Ford Fiesta erratically through the city in the early hours of November 7.

Emma Pearce, prosecuting, said that at about 2.25am an officer saw Reid turn left through a No Entry sign into Lowther Street, York.

Reid was pulled over and was later found to have 70 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

At a hearing in November, Reid pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.

At the latest hearing Jane Maloney, for Reid, said that having a car had put temptation in his way. However, he had now sold the car and had no intention of purchasing another until his ban was completed.

Miss Maloney said that apart from the previous conviction last June for driving with excess alcohol, when he was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £100, and an earlier conviction for possession of drugs, Reid was of good character.

Deputy District Judge Kristina Harrison told Reid that a custodial sentence was her only option.

She said: "This is your second offence of driving with excess alcohol within a short period of time. I would be entitled to give you a six-month sentence, which is the maximum, but I have taken into account the fact that you pleaded guilty and that you have co-operated with the police, and I'm prepared to reduce your sentence by half."

Reid was given a three-month custodial sentence, half of which will be served and half suspended. He was banned from driving for three years.

Updated: 09:47 Monday, January 03, 2005