A DRIVER who gave a workmate a lift after a drinking session despite being under a life ban was jailed for four months yesterday.

Bricklayer Ernest Russell, 45, of Baker Street, Stirling, was spotted on CCTV getting into a van after staggering out of a bar in Stirling town centre on April 23. He had a reading of 109mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath - more than three times the limit. Solicitor Ken Marsh, defending, said: ''The van was required for work the next morning and he foolishly decided to drive it to his colleague's house.''

Sheriff Robert Younger noted Russell had six previous convictions for drink driving and five for driving while banned.