A TEENAGE soldier who took his father’s car for a drive while drunk has been banned from the road at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Nineteen-year-old Aidan Murphy – who serves with the Scots Guard and based in London – appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to charges of failing to provide two specimens of breath, having no insurance and no licence.

The offences happened at Paterson Gardens in Hawick on Sunday.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said Murphy had visited friends and consumed alcohol and had been shown pictures of a BMW.

He explained that when his client returned to his father’s address temptation got the better of him and he got into his father’s car and drove off.

Mr Hulme said the incident happened shortly after midnight and the car was only gone for around 10 minutes after neighbours saw it being driven away and police were in attendance quickly.

He added that Murphy had tried to give a specimen of breath but was unable to do so because of the alcohol and cigarettes he had consumed.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said it was a serious matter pointing out it was Murphy’s third driving conviction within 20 months and that the soldier displayed a “worrying disregard” for road traffic laws.

He deferred sentence until December 21 for a Community Justice Social Work Report and a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment and Murphy received an interim driving ban.