An argument with his girlfriend led to a man driving a car he was not insured to use while nearly three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Kirk Coggins, 36, of Lucey Way, Bermondsey, was stopped by police in King Charles Road, Surbiton, at 8pm on June 18, where he failed a breath test.

Coggins had 117mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston Magistrates' Court on June 19 to drink-driving and driving without insurance.

Bob Moseley, defending, said Coggins had jumped into the car without thinking after the row.

Magistrates were concerned at the extremely high reading and ordered probation reports to be completed on Coggins before he is sentenced on June 26.

He was warned he might face prison.

Magistrate Amanda Otway also imposed a temporary disqualification, banning Coggins from driving until his sentence date.