A MAN who had been drinking and took his partner's Audi SUV for a spin has been jailed for nine months.

Dereck Simago was already subject to a suspended prison sentence, imposed last year after he stole a vehicle, when he sneaked out his partner's home as she put the children to bed on the evening of November 6.

Anthony Stephenson, prosecuting, said: "Mr Simago said he was popping outside for a smoke but when she came back downstairs the the Audi Q7 was no longer on the driveway."

At 3am the following morning police stopped the vehicle and Simago, of Poplin Close, Bolton, failed a roadside breath test.

Mr Stephenson added that, at the police station he failed to blow into the official intoximeter.

"Officers believed he was blowing down the side of the tube so it was a wilful act in failing to give the sample," he said.

Simago, aged 26, pleaded guilty to driving whilst banned, failing to produce a specimen and having no licence or insurance. He already had convictions for other driving offences including drink driving.

Isobel Thomas, defending, told the court how the father-of-five is a student in his third year at the University of Bolton studying civil engineering.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh jailed Simago for nine months and banned him from driving for four years and 19 weeks.

He told the defendant: "You have a poor record for driving matters including previous disqualifications for alcohol-related offending.

"Custody is inevitable in this case."