A TEENAGE soldier who took his father's car for a drive while drunk has been banned from the road for three years.

Aidan Murphy, 19, who serves with the Scots Guard and is based in London, pleaded guilty to charges of failing to provide two specimens of breath, having no insurance and no licence.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told the offences happened at Wilton Crescent in Hawick on Sunday, November 8.

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

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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 at Galashiels Police Station but was unable to do so because of the alcohol and cigarettes he had consumed.

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Mr Hulme said that his client had been receiving support from the British Army in relation to his binge drinking.

Murphy, of Paterson Gardens, Hawick, was disqualified from driving for three years and fined £350 for failing to provide two specimens of breath.

He was also fined another £300 for the insurance and licence offences.