A teenager from Port Erin has been fined after he sped away from police in his car then abandoned it.

Charles Sigley, of Bradda Road, admitted careless driving, failing to stop for police, and failing to display ’R’ plates.

Magistrates endorsed the 18-year-old’s licence with nine points, fined him £300, and extended his ’R’ plate period by 12 months.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court that police saw Sigley driving a Volkswagen Golf on Station Road in Port Erin at 11.45pm on February 3.

He was said to be driving erratically in wet conditions heading towards Bradda Road.

Police switched on their blue lights in an effort to pull Sigley over but the teenager carried on driving, increasing his speed until they lost sight of him.

Abandoned

At 12.35am the Golf was found abandoned on Surby Road.

Sigley later phoned police and handed himself in.

When interviewed he told officers that he was a newly qualified driver and was not displaying ’R’ plates so he had panicked when he saw the police car.

The court heard that Sigley has no previous convictions.

Advocate Matthew Wilshaw said: ’Mr Sigley had been working as a car valet and had forgotten to fix his ’R’ plates.

’When police illuminated their blue lights he panicked.

’The irony is, had he just stopped, with no previous convictions, he may have been dealt with by way of a slap on the wrists and told to put his ’R’ plates on.’

Mr Wilshaw went on to say that Sigley would lose his employment if he was disqualified.

Magistrates also ordered Sigley to pay £50 prosecution costs.