AN 18-YEAR-OLD drink driver who drove across a roundabout before abandoning his car has been banned from the road for a year.
A court heard Noah Ruben Darby drank six bottles of beer and six shots of whisky on May 3 before getting behind the wheel of his Volkswagen Golf.
He drove over the Mitsubishi roundabout in Bridport (A35/Sea Road North) - causing an oil slick - before abandoning the car in East Street.
Darby, of Allington Mead, Bridport, admitted driving while his alcohol level was above the legal limit, driving without a licence or third party insurance, and failing to report an accident.
Prosecutor Siobhan Oxley told Weymouth Magistrates Court how Darby walked home after abandoning the car and went to bed - and was woken up and arrested by police around 2.30am.
She said: "He drank six bottles of beer and six shots of whisky. He admitted driving his car on Sea Road North and drove over a roundabout near the Esso garage.
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"He then abandoned the car on East Street and walked home and went to sleep and avoided arrest.
"Officers came to his address and woke him up. He was then arrested and taken to hospital. He recorded 97 milligrammes (mgs) of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, which exceeded the legal limit of 80 mgs.
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"He was then taken to the police station to be interviewed about driving drunk and he said 'I was stupid'."
Mitigating, Lee Christmas said: "He's young and his stepfather - who he had a very good relationship with - died on March 26 this year.
"He's taken on the lead male role in his household and works hard as a tree surgeon. The pressure of such a role at a young age has led to depression and mental health issues, which he admits he has not properly acknowledged and discussed with his family."
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A representative from the Probation Service told magistrates: "He said he's disgusted with his behaviour and he was simply drinking the alcohol to drown his sorrows.
"He has now cut his alcohol consumption to one drink per fortnight."
Darby was given a 12-month community order, which includes 100 hours of unpaid work.
He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and must pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
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