A LOWESTOFT plumber took his girlfriend's car without her permission and crashed it into a telegraph pole after he had been out drinking, a court was told this week.

At the scene of the crash, Barney Lawrence told police officers that 'my girlfriend is going to kill me' after admitting he had been attempting to show off at the time.

Appearing at Lowestoft Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, Lawrence, 29, of Marine Parade was banned from driving for 24 months and given a 12-week suspended prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to charges of drink-driving and aggravated vehicle taking. He also admitted driving without a licence and insurance.

Colette Griffiths, prosecuting, told the court that Lawrence had been out drinking with his girlfriend and friends in Beccles town centre on November 29. But after becoming separated from the group, Lawrence got into his girlfriend's Ford Puma car and drove home.

Mrs Griffiths said at about 11pm police officers attended a road accident in Waveney Drive where a car had ended on its roof after hitting and damaging a telegraph pole. A breath-test showed Lawrence had 94 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath: the legal drink drive limit is 35 microgrammes.

Mrs Griffiths told the court that at the scene of the accident, Lawrence had told officers: 'It's my fault. I take full responsibility. I put my foot down showing off. My girlfriend is going to kill me.'

Since the crash Lawrence had spilt up from his girlfriend, the court heard.

Calvin Saker, mitigating, said the crash had contributed to the break-up of Lawrence's relationship as well as financial problems because he was now finding it hard to find work as a plumber.

He said Lawrence took the car in the 'spur of the moment' as he wanted to get his girlfriend's attention so they could leave Beccles. But his behaviour was also down to an alcohol problem he was trying to deal with.