A trip to buy his wife alloy wheels, as a gesture to get his marriage back on track, led to a three month prison sentence for a Pembroke Dock man.

David Robert Turnbull, of Bush Street, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified and without third party insurance when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday.

The court heard that police stopped Turnbull while he was driving his wife’s Vauxhall Agila at Sentry Cross, Milford Haven, at 10.30am on February 12, because the vehicle had a defective brake light.

Turnbull, 44, told the officers he was banned from driving, adding that his wife was not aware that he had taken her car.

In interview he stated that he had woken up and decided he wanted to do something special for his wife, as they had recently reconciled.

Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, said: “He decided he would get some alloy wheels for her vehicle.”

Miss Morgan added that Turnbull had been given a three-year ban from driving for an offence of excess alcohol in May 2017, and had a number of driving while disqualified offences on his record.

Mark Layton, defending, said: “Mr Turnbull and his wife had been experiencing some marital difficulties, he was very keen that the relationship should continue.”

He added that the small car’s tyres sometimes rubbed on the bottom of the car when the children were in the back seat.

“So he made the rather rash and foolish decision, hoping it would perhaps keep matters on track with his marriage, to go out and buy some new wheels for the car.

“He intended to have them fitted to perhaps curry some favour with his wife and her affections would grow, so the marriage would return to how it was in the past.”

Mr Layton added that Turnbull was genuinely remorseful, and had shown a lapse in judgement, acting impulsively and foolishly.

“Clearly getting the marriage back on track is a very admirable thing to do, but not at the cost of putting public lives at risk.”

Magistrates sentenced Turnbull to 12 weeks in prison, and added 18 months to his disqualification, bringing it to 44 months. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £115 surcharge.