East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton has condemned the sentence handed down to a drink-driving asylum-seeker.

Conservative Mr Loughton said Batchuluun Davaasambuu should be "sent home on the next plane".

Davaasambuu, who was almost three times the limit, made a bid to stay in Worthing just hours after being convicted of drink-driving yesterday.

Davaasambuu, 35, from Selden Road, Worthing, was ordered to pay a £500 fine but instead spent a day in custody.

However, he was released from the cells to attend an interview with immigration officials.

The court had heard that the Mongolian came to the UK as a student three years ago but it was only discovered that he was still living in this country on Sunday when he was stopped by police on the A259 Littlehampton Road.

Angela McGuinness, prosecuting, said: "Officers noticed it was weaving in and out of the carriageway so they stopped the car to speak to the driver.

"The only occupant was the defendant and they could smell liquor on his breath and see lager in the car. He was asked to provide a breath test, which proved positive."

Speaking through an interpreter Davaasambuu, who represented himself, said he was not working in this country and wanted to seek asylum.

He told the court: "I regret my wrongdoing."

But Mr Loughton, speaking outside the court, said the sentence sent out "worrying signals".

He said: "Everybody breaking British law should be subject to the full rigours of the law. Surely this person should be put on the first plane back to the country he came from.

"It seems as though this case sticks two fingers up at most law-abiding tax-paying constituents."

A Home Office spokesman said they could not comment on individual cases but it was likely to take several months for the application process to be concluded.

He said: "We consider all cases on their merits and look at whether or not that person is in danger of being persecuted if they go back to their own country.

"Criminal behaviour can also be a factor in that process."

Davaasambuu was also disqualified from driving on any UK road for three years.