A man accused of taking a vehicle in Carmarthen before being stopped in Pembroke Dock for drink-driving is to be sentenced in court next month.

Twenty-four-year-old Michael John Phillips, of Llammas Street, Carmarthen, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent; driving a motor vehicle when above the prescribed limit of alcohol; using a motor vehicle on a public road without third party insurance; and driving whilst disqualified.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that the defendant had been getting fuel at the filling station in Llanteg on May 27, and the station’s operative contacted the police to report their concerns that there was a strong smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath.

Mr. Phillips was heading towards Tenby and police caught up with the vehicle on London Road in Pembroke Dock.

The defendant told officers that he had taken his mate’s Vauxhall Astra from Carmarthen and that he was disqualified from driving.

“After being arrested and interviewed, the defendant said that it seemed to be a habit that he would get drunk and take someone’s car,” Ms Morgan said.

“Mr. Phillips has quite a few convictions on record for this type of offending, and he is in breach of a suspended sentence imposed by the crown court,” she added.

Defence solicitor Mark Layton told the court that his client had been given an 18-month suspended sentence at Swansea Crown Court in June of last year.

Magistrates elected to transfer the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing, before giving the defendant an interim driving disqualification.

Mr. Phillips will now appear at Swansea Crown Court on July 11 for sentencing.