A university student who crashed into a tree on Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, after drinking, has been banned from driving and fined £1,000.

Andrew Burkitt, of Cronk Drean, Douglas, failed a breathalyser test with a reading of 80 - the legal limit is 35.

Magistrates banned the 19-year-old from driving for three years with an order to retake his test at the end of the ban and attend a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court that emergency services were called to Glencrutchery Road on October 27 at 3.26am.

There was a red Ford Fiesta in the middle of the road with significant impact damage and the front tyre ripped off.

Burkitt was at the scene and said he had been driving from Douglas to Onchan when a dark coloured Fiesta had come towards him causing him to collide with the tree.

However, marks at the scene of the crash were said to be inconsistent with Burkitt’s account of what had happened.

At police headquarters he failed the breathalyser test with the reading of 80.

Burkitt then admitted he had given a false account at the scene and that he had been drinking at 9pm.

He said he had left his car at his friends’ house and that they had then returned at 2.30am.

Burkitt said he had then drunk water and had some food before driving the car.

He admitted lying to police saying he had panicked and didn’t know what to say.

He was initially arrested for obstructing police but this was not pursued and was just treated as an aggravating factor in the drink-driving charge.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said: ’Unfortunately Mr Burkitt has made the catastrophic decision to drive his car after a night out.

’After returning to his friends he phoned for a taxi.

’The taxi hasn’t arrived and he has felt able to drive the car. He now fully accepts he wasn’t in a position to make an objective decision to drive.’

Ms Cooil went on to say that Burkitt said he may have been distracted by a bottle of water in the passenger footwell at the time of the accident.

’He spent eight hours in custody, which for someone not used to custody, is quite a significant period of time,’ said the advocate.

Burkitt was said to be at university studying a course which would enable him to work in the fire service.

Ms Cooil said: ’Disqualification will mean he will have to delay applying to the fire service.

’He is horrified by his own actions. The car is a write-off and the insurance is invalidated due to the offence.’

Magistrates also ordered Burkitt to pay £125 prosecution costs and he was given one month to pay the fine and costs.

Chair of the magistrates Belinda Pilling told the teenager: ’It was very lucky nobody else was involved, we hope you have learned from what has happened.’