A TEENAGER who hit a landlord’s car as he drove away from a pub the evening before his 19th birthday, was given a community order after admitting drink driving.

Jack Telling, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to driving his Corsa on The Street in Lydiard Millicent with a level of 58 micrograms of alcohol in his breath and failing to stop after an accident

Swindon Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday heard there was a party at the Sun Inn on the evening of April 30. But at around 10pm the landlord called for assistance from a doorman because he was having difficulty with a group of people who were being asked to leave.

Prosecutor James Burnham said: “I think a lot of alcohol had been consumed.”

Asked by the doorman and the landlord the group agreed to go and went out through the car park.

“One of the young men was seen to get into a grey 2013 Vauxhall Corsa. It started and was driven towards the exit.”

But he said: “It was apparent that the driver should not be driving.” It then reversed into a white Mercedes in the car park – the landlord’s car.

The landlord grabbed the keys from the Corsa’s ignition and the driver fled the scene on foot.

Police called to the pub were able to identify the keeper of the car and went round to his house in Staring Close, Middleleaze, where they found Telling, who had changed the clothes he had been wearing earlier.

He told them he was very sorry. He had been drinking at the pub with friends. He admitted he had been too drunk to drive but told them he hadn’t felt drunk.

He didn’t remember why they left, but he decided to drive home. His friends tried to stop him and he ran off in a panic after the collision.

Defence solicitor Chris Albin said the impact had only damaged the bumper of the landlord’s car and could be pulled out.

Telling had made a full and frank admission to the police and had not attempted to avoid being caught for drink driving. “He was absolutely honest,” he said.

Submitting a letter from his client’s employer, Mr Albin added: “He is fully aware that he is going to lose his licence.”

District Judge Simon Cooper said Telling’s decision had been a bad one, but he had admitted everything to the police.

“It was the action of a 19-year-old in drink with his chums forgetting his responsibilities.”

The alcohol reading was only 15 micrograms below twice the limit.

“The results could well have been catastrophic. You might have hit the landlord, let alone his car,” he told Telling.

Imposing a 12-month community order and 80 hours of unpaid work, he banned Telling from getting behind the wheel for 16 months.

He also ordered him to pay £85 prosecution costs and another £85 towards victim services.