A DANGEROUS driver has been sent to jail for more than a year after his third offence in since 2018.

Richard McCarthy has been jailed for 14 months after he took a car belonging to his partner earlier this year and driving it around the Basildon borough dangerously before eventually being stopped by police.

The 24-year-old of Buckingham Road, Laindon, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced.

The court heard that McCarthy, on April 29 this year, had gone out in his partner’s car - for which he was not insured - and driven recklessly around roads in the Laindon and Basildon area, before catching the attention of police.

The police then chased him to the Dale Farm caravan site where the chase concluded and McCarthy was arrested.

He later went on to admit dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified, driving over the alcohol limit, as he had 44 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the limit being 35 - and taking a motor vehicle without consent.

Sentencing him on Monday, Judge Ian Graham said: “The vehicle was a Mini Cooper that was your partner’s. You had no license or insurance.

“But instead of stopping for police you set off so a police chase ensued.

“The vehicle eventually stopped and in addition to dangerous driving you were over the alcohol limit.

“You have a bad previous record. In 2018 you were convicted of dangerous driving, In 2019 you were convicted of dangerous driving.

“You have made me no alternative to send you back to prison for these offences.

“I also take into account that this is not the worst example of driving over the limit that you can imagine. No one was injured and no damage was done.”

McCarthy, dressed in a black jumper sporting long hair and a beard, remained impassive as Judge Graham sentenced him.

He was given 14 months in prison for his dangerous driving and concurrent sentences for the other offences.

He will serve at least half of his sentence behind bars before being eligible to be released.