A TEENAGER found over the limit after he smashed his car into a lamppost and abandoned it, was fined £100.

Burnley Magistrates heard how apprentice electrician Martin Tyrrell, 19, had intended to sleep in his friend's camper van after a night out in Colne. His friend had then rung him, said he was stranded in the town and asked for a lift.

Tyrrell went to pick him up and was said to have skidded on some ice before he and his friend set off walking along Keighley Road.

The defendant, of Thornhill Road, Steeton, Keighley, admitted driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned for 12 months with £50 costs. The court was told when Tyrrell gave two tests at the police station, the lowest revealed 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - the legal limit is 54. He had no previous convictions.

Drink driver hit a lamppost

Richard Taylor, defending, said Tyrrell was extremely annoyed with himself.

He had got a taxi back to where he planned to meet his friend but his friend had then rung him and asked for a lift.

The defendant normally never had a drink when he was driving. He had learned a salutory lesson.