A TEENAGER obstructed a police investigation by continuously providing the name of his twin brother after being caught drug driving without any third-party insurance, a court heard.

Harrison Dutton, 18, was stopped by police at 2.55 pm on August 22 last year while driving a Volkswagen Golf on Rawlinson Street, Barrow.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the defendant was drug wiped which came back positive for delta-9-detrahydrocannabinol with a reading of 2.3 micrograms.

The legal limit is 2.0 micrograms.

Mr Dacre said: “The defendant was 17-years-old at the time of the offences. He was present with his twin brother.

“The defendant produced a one-day insurance policy certificate with his brother’s name and repeatedly told officers he was not the driver of the vehicle. He maintained his stance in police interview.”

The court heard police were only able to identify Dutton correctly when the blood samples came back.

Dutton, of Manchester Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to wilfully obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty, drug driving and driving without any third-party insurance when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates Court.

In mitigation, Michael Graham said his client ‘panicked’ and then made the decision to continue using his brother’s name.

Mr Graham added: “He did not think he would be over the limit. His brother was unwell in the back of the vehicle and he made the decision to drive what was a short distance.”

The court heard the defendant had previous convictions for drug driving and for assaulting an emergency worker.

Magistrates chose to revoke and re-sentence Dutton for the most recent offences.

He received a 12-month community order with requirements to complete ten RAR days and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Dutton was also disqualified from driving for 36 months.