An unemployed man landed himself in court after he took his ex-girlfriend's hire car without consent and drove to Worcester.

Leon Johnson, 26, of Priory Road, Portbury, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to taking a Mitsubishi Colt without permission on February 10; driving it on the M5 in Worcester on February 12 without insurance or a licence; and failing to surrender to bail on March 3.

Magistrates told him to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, pay £150 compensation to his ex, £85 costs and put six points on his licence.

The car had been hired out to his ex-partner, with whom Johnson had had a seven year, on-off relationship, the court heard.

Saed Jamal, prosecuting, said: "On February 10 she reported him and the car missing.

"Two days later police on patrol on the southbound M5 saw the car being driven by the defendant. They followed and stopped him.

"He said he was going to Wolverhampton to see a friend and was very sorry for his actions."

John Roberts, defending, said: "Mr Johnson has obviously had a very colourful love life.

"Her statement says she reported him missing because she was worried about him, she talks about him being depressed."