Banned Hours After L-Test

Updated: 11:28, Tuesday February 27, 2007

A teenager who went out to celebrate passing his L-test is believed to have become the fastest to be caught drink driving.

He was fined £150 by Guisborough magistrates, in Cleveland, ordered to pay £45 costs and banned from driving for 12 months at the hearing on Friday.

Allan Graham passed his test the previous Saturday, February 17, and went out with friends to celebrate until 1am on Sunday.

At 5.30am a female friend called him while he was in bed, asking for a lift home.

Graham, 19, who lives in Redcar, Cleveland, drove to the Kirkleatham area, where he was spotted by a traffic officer who noticed his lights were not on.

The officer pulled him over and breathtested him. The 19-year-old gave a reading of 64mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath - almost double the limit of 35mg.

He was charged with drink-driving and pleaded guilty at court five days later.

Inspector Eric Robinson of Cleveland Police said: "This incredible case is possibly the shortest length of time that anyone has ever held a driving licence and is a sobering thought for other young drivers who think they will be all right to drive after a night out.

"This incident shows we constantly look out for any driver we suspect is under the influence of drink or drugs."