A SELF-employed Kidderminster builder has been jailed for giving a false name when he was arrested for his fifth drink-driving offence.

Samuel Clark was banned from the road following a previous drink-driving offence but he got behind the wheel of his car when his girlfriend called him in an emergency, Worcester Crown Court was told.

The 33-year-old was stopped by police in Rifle Range Road, Kidderminster, at 3am on June 10 and found to be just over the drink-drive limit, Michael Conry, prosecuting, told the court.

He gave his brother's name and when he later failed to turn up for a magistrate’s court hearing, a warrant was issued. He was arrested himself before his brother could be taken in by mistake, Mr Conry said.

Clark, of Witton Avenue, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice, driving while disqualified, drink-driving, having no insurance and failing to appear for a hearing.

Mr Conry said it was Clark's fifth offence of driving with excess alcohol dating back to 2003. In 2013, he was given a 12 week jail sentence suspended for 12 months and banned from driving for four-and-a-half years.

He told police he had panicked and given his brother's name but had failed to later notify the authorities what he had done and give up his real details.

"It is perhaps fortuitous that his brother didn't actually get arrested," Mr Conry said.

A pre-sentence report said Clark had previously been a binge drinker but had now cut down his alcohol intake. He runs his own building and landscaping firm and had a driver as one of his five employees.

Lewis Perry, defending, said the van was kept at his home and on the night of the offence he had been drinking when he had a call from his girlfriend to say her daughter was ill. He set off on the eight minute drive despite being banned.

"People are dependent on him and they would lose their jobs if his business closed while he was in prison," Mr Perry said.

Judge Nicholas Cole said the jobs would be at risk because of Clark's "foolish actions."

"You have an appalling driving record," He told Clark. "The courts have made it quite plain to you over the years that you have to stop driving while over the limit."

Clark, he said, had ignored the disqualification to assist his girlfriend.

"These matters would be serious enough but you made it far worse by giving false details to the officers," the judge told him.

Clark was jailed for a total of 12 months and banned from driving for six-and-a-half years.