A YOUNG driver who crashed his car in Wiltshire after two pints has appeared in court after calling the police on himself.
Bleue Griffin had been out drinking with his friends on June 8 and told officers that he had only had two pints so assumed he was okay to drive.
But after crashing his car for the first time on Hook Street in Royal Wootton Bassett, the 21-year-old called the police on himself in panic.
Griffin, of Hoggs Lane, Purton, pleaded guilty to one charge of drink driving at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, July 24.
“Officers arrived at the junction with Great Field in the morning of June 8 following a call from the defendant to say that he had crashed his vehicle," said prosecutor Keith Ballinger.
“He originally said to police he had swerved to avoid a deer and then later said that he had swerved to avoid a car.
“At the station, he was found to have 43mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is eight mg above the legal limit.
"In an interview, he told officers he had only had two pints and assumed that he was okay to drive but was clearly wrong about that.”
The crash took place on the junction between Hook Street and Greatfield (Image: Google Maps)
Defence lawyer Mr Morgan added: "Griffin hadn't had a meal that day and it was quite strong West Country cider which perhaps was stronger than he realised."
“He had dropped his friend off at the Lyneham military base just before the crash.
"He hit his head in the incident and he does remember having to swerve from another vehicle, although he is not sure if there was a deer involved.
“The defendant called the police himself and has admitted what he has done and expressed remorse.
"He has no previous convictions and he complied fully with breath testing and interviews."
The young driver pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)
Griffin has now been disqualified from driving for 12 months and offered a drink drive awareness course.
He must also pay a fine of £120, court costs of £85 and a surcharge of £48, leaving him with a total bill of £255.
Speaking to the young driver, chair of the bench Natalie O'Connell said: “This is a hard lesson to learn at 21.
"But you do the course and pay the fine and we hopefully won’t see you back in court again.”
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