A teenage altar boy who drove without a licence or insurance was trying to do a favour for a friend, Douglas magistrates were told.

Joey Mari Latoni Cordero was intending driving a girlfriend home because he felt she was too drunk to make the journey safely alone when he was stopped by police on Barrack Street.

For the prosecution, Michael Jelski said the 18-year-old was only a provisional driving licence holder when he drove on Shaw’s Brow Road in the early hours of March 5. He said police were acting on a tip-off when they arrested him driving unsupervised and without L-plates.

In fact, Cordero, of Loch Promenade, Douglas, candidly told them he had driven unsupervised a number of times. The car was bearing R-plates, but he denied this was to suggest he was a full licence holder, saying they were on the car from when his mother had gained a full licence the previous year.

Although there was a policy of insurance in place, he said it was invalidated because he was not driving in accordance with the requirements of his provisional licence.

Defending Cordero, Paul Rodgers said his client worked as a glass collector at the Courthouse bar, often remaining there until 3am.

He said the teenager, an altar boy for his local Catholic church, was described in his references as friendly, courteous, having an ’excellent work ethic and all round loveliness’, was concerned that a friend who was intoxicated in the bar would not be able to get home safely.

’So he went to drive her home. He was concerned and he thought he was doing her a good turn, but of course there were lots of police in that area at that time. He was stupid but his intentions were positive,’ he said.

’They are serious errors of judgement,’ he said.

He told the court Cordero’s family had originally moved to the UK from the Philippines when he was three, before relocating to the Isle of Man.

The court heard Cordero had already had a number of driving lessions and was ready to take his practical driving test but was still waiting to pass the theory test first.

’He has had around 12 lessons and another 10 from a family friend,’ Mr Rodgers said.

’If he had passed his theory test, he would be in a position now to take his driving test.’

For failing to drive in accordance with the requirements of his provisional licence he was fined £120 and his driving licence was endorsed.

For driving without a valid insurance policy he was fined £400 and his licence was further endorsed with seven penalty points. Magistrates’ chairman Alan Gelling also ordered him to pay a £50 contribution towards costs.