Last updated 12:56, Wednesday, 20 August 2008

A MILLOM teenager was reported to police by his own mother after drinking up to 10 pints of lager and crashing his car on the A595.

Pyne, of The Green, Millom, then abandoned his car after smashing through a dry stone wall but was arrested after his mother rang police and told them what had happened. The accident happened just hours after former Ulverston mayor, John Birkett, was killed in a collision with a tipper wagon a few miles away.

Pyne had been out with his girlfriend drinking that evening, but the couple had driven off in separate cars after arguing, Furness magistrates heard yesterday.

Mr John Appleby, prosecuting, explained a misjudged manoeuvre had resulted in Pyne driving off the road and into a wall.

Mr Appleby added: “He told police he had driven after his girlfriend and said he knew he was over the limit.

“He followed her and attempted to overtake her, in an erratic manner, the cause of this misjudgment being alcohol.”

Pyne, a self-employed plasterer at the time, then went back to his mother’s home. After she contacted police, Pyne was arrested and provided a breath test reading of 73 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. During interview, he told police he had drunk between six and 10 pints of lager and described himself as being “a little p*****”.

Mr Trystan Roberts, defending, said the situation had been “emotionally charged” and that the 19-year-old defendant had returned to the scene of the accident after being questioned by police.

Mr Roberts said: “He said his tyre had hit an obstacle in the road resulting in him coming off the road, but agreed with his mother when she said they should telephone the police.”

Disqualifying Pyne for 20 months, district judge, Gerald Chalk, said the accident could have been much worse.

Mr Chalk added: “Your behaviour was very, very stupid.”

Pyne, who pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, was also ordered to pay a fine of £115, £60 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.