A TEENAGE drink driver caused 'significant' damage when he crashed into the back of another car.

Oliver Middleton landed himself in court after he made the 'silly mistake' of driving late at night having drunk alcohol.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard the 19-year-old collided with another vehicle in the early hours of December 27.

Middleton, of Chatsworth Street in Barrow, pleaded guilt to drink driving when he appeared in the dock.

Magistrates were told how police officer found the driver and two friends at the side of the road.

Middleton confessed to the officer he was driving, saying: "I've had alcohol - it was totally me."

Prosecutor Lee Dacre described the incident.

"At 4.30am PC Gardner was asked to attend Wordsworth Street," he said.

"There had been a loud bang and there was car that was smoking.

"It had crashed into the back of a blue Skoda which had significant front end damage.

"The defendant told the officer the car was his.

"He said 'I've had alcohol, it was totally me'.

"There was blood on his nose, which he said was because of his car's airbag."

Middleton was checked over by paramedics but deemed well enough to attend the police station.

A breath test showed he had 77 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35.

The court heard he told police he had initially gone to his car to charge his phone.

He was driving between 30mph and 4mph on the narrow street.

"It could've been a very serious mistake and caused injury and him or others," Mr Dacre told the court.

Representing Middleton, Leah Kirk said the defendant regretted his actions.

"He describes it as an extremely silly mistake," she said.

"He's upset about what could've happened.

"It's something he would genuinely never do again.

"He does appear to be extremely remorseful."

The court heard Middleton, an apprentice electrician, had no previous convictions.

Magistrates, led by chair of the bench Robert Maddock, sentenced him to a fine of £400 and banned him from driving for 20 months.

He said: "Benches are always concerned when we hear about drink driving, particularly when there has been a crash.

"The outcome could've been a lot worse than it actually was."

Middleton accepted the chance to undertake a rehabilitation course that would reduce the length of his ban.

He was ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.