A WORKER helped himself to his boss's articulated tractor unit after his "employment was terminated," a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how Carl Rivers, 33, was later found to be almost three times the limit when police stopped him in the vehicle. Five fuel account cards had also gone missing from his former workplace.

Rivers, who told police he was suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome after service in the Gulf, said he had become confused after his job ended.

Rivers, of Brownhill Avenue, Burnley, admitted taking a vehicle without authority, obtaining property by deception , driving with excess alcohol and not having insurance. He asked for three offences to be considered.

The defendant, who has been in custody, was bailed until August 5, for a pre-sentence report and was given an interim driving ban.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Rivers worked for Thomas Hereford haulage company in Hereford and his employment finished on July 8.

Two days after his boss noticed an articulated tractor unit had gone missing and reported it to the police.

The defendant was later stopped in the vehicle in Nelson and the lower of two breath tests showed 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath -- the legal limit is 35.

Basil Dearing, defending, said Rivers was the subject of a probation officer. While he had been in custody, he had seen the police doctor, which turned out to be his own GP.

The doctor had said Rivers was suffering from a personality disorder and drinking with it did not help.