A teenage driver sneezed so violently he rolled his car, he told a court.

Tony David Luke Pitt, of High Street, Port St Mary, overturned his car at Springfield Terrace in Foxdale on July 6.

The court heard police were called to the accident but found no trace of Pitt at the scene.

He could not be found but arrived at police headquarters the following morning.

When he was asked why he had not previously reported the accident, he said that he thought his mother had done it and that he had been concussed.

Defence advocate Kate Alexander said: ’Mr Pitt has unfortunately had a fit of very bad sneezing which has caused the collision to occur. He can’t explain why he left the scene.’

The 18-year-old admitted careless driving but said that the sneezing had caused him to crash.

The court heard that Pitt is an apprentice at JCK and a reference was handed in from his employer.

He was fined £500 and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also ordered him to pay £50 prosecution costs.