A teenager who didn’t have a full driving licence has been fined £800 after crashing a car.

Charles Ashley Carter, of Thornhill Close, Port Erin, admitting careless driving.

His licence was endorsed with six penalty points and was ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that the 18-year-old was driving a Renault Megane on July 22 at 6.45pm when he collided with a BMW and a hedge on Ballasalla Road, St Mark’s.

One of the wheels on the Megane came off its hub and the BMW suffered minor damage.

Carter admitted to police that he held only a provisional licence but claimed the car was not registered to him.

He said that the owner did not know he had taken the car and was unsure if it was insured.

However, inquiries found that Carter was the owner of the car and was insured.

Mr Kane said it was not known why Carter had made those representations at the scene.

The driver of the BMW said that he saw the Megane out of control as it came towards him.

When interviewed at police headquarters Carter admitted the collision was his fault, putting it down to inexperience and speed.

He admitted only holding a provisional licence saying that he had taken driving lessons.

One of the tyres on the Megane was found to be devoid of tread.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate James Peterson handed in a letter from Carter, who he said was an apprentice at a garage, to the court

Mr Peterson said: ’The circumstances are that he was gifted the vehicle by his boss to learn to drive in. The car had been left in a public car park and he was concerned about issues of it being there so he made the silly decision to take the car to get it off the road.

’He was in some respects trying to do the right thing.’

The advocate went on to say that Carter’s mother had been away at the time so he had no-one to ask to move the car for him.

’He wasn’t aware of the defective tyre,’ continued Mr Peterson. ’Unfortunately he lost control. Fortunately there was only minor damage to the other vehicle.’

Magistrates fined Carter £350 for careless driving, £200 for having no driving licence, and £250 for the defective tyre.

He will pay all amounts at a rate of £60 per month.