A teenager from Neyland has been hit with a 20-month driving ban after admitting in court that he had collided with a parked vehicle whilst drink-driving.

Nineteen-year-old Jay Ian Johnstone, of High Street, pleaded guilty to driving his Vauxhall Corsa on January 22, with a reading of 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit, when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that at around 12.30 am, a resident of Honeyborough Green in Neyland, witnessed a vehicle travelling away from outside his house, and on closer inspection he discovered that a Citroen van parked outside belonging to a neighbour had been damaged.

“The owner of the vehicle was informed and soon after saw two males wandering around the area. Police officers attended the scene and when they arrived spoke to the males about the vehicle damage, but they denied any involvement.

“At that stage the officer noticed a strong smell of alcohol on the defendant and asked him where his vehicle was, and when he showed them, officers discovered that there was damage on his car.

“Mr. Johnstone told police that he had ‘panicked’ as he didn’t know what to do,” added Ms Vaughan.

Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that his client had never been in trouble before and has no idea why he was driving that night after drinking.

Magistrates disqualified Mr. Johnstone from driving for 20 months and fined him £100 for the offence. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.