A motorist was forced to perform an emergency stop to avoid a collision with a car driven by a motorist who thought the road was clear.

Caleb Douglas, aged 18, of Shore Road, Port St Mary, appeared before magistrates on Thursday.

He admitted a charge of careless driving and was fined £500.

His driving licence endorsed with six points.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that, on September 22 at 8.22pm, police on patrol on Shore Road in Rushen saw Douglas driving a Volkswagen Polo and pull out of a junction at Kentraugh Mill Road, narrowly avoiding a collision with an oncoming car, the driver of which had to perform an emergency stop.

He was stopped and told police that he had not seen the lights on the other vehicle because of a wall.

The court heard that Douglas has no previous convictions.

Difficult junction

Defence advocate Emily Johnson said that her client wanted to apologise for the incident.

’It was a momentary lapse of judgement on his part,’ said the advocate.

’Mr Douglas hadn’t long passed his test and had been away a lot, so had very sporadic driving experience.

’The junction near Shore Road is quite a difficult junction.

’There were road works at the time and it was dark.’

Ms Johnson went on to say that Douglas worked at a restaurant but was also training to be a personal trainer at a gym.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Douglas: ’You are very fortunate that there was no collision.’

The teenager was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Douglas will pay the fine and costs at a rate of £10 per week.