A TEENAGE driver whose car ended up on its roof near the canal bridge at Rowde was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit, a Devizes youth court has been told.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is under 18, appeared before the South East Wiltshire youth magistrates at Devizes on Thursday and admitted driving with excess alcohol.

He was disqualified from driving for two years, told to pay costs of £55 and given a referral order for six months under which he will be supervised by the Youth Offending Team and have to agree a scheme of activities.

He told the magistrates that with the help of his family he had stopped drinking and stayed in at night. He said: "I know I have to change the way I have been behaving over the last year or so and think before I act."

The youth, who lives in the Devizes area, said members of his family were disgusted at the way he had been behaving. "My own parents have no reason to speak up for me unless I change my ways, I realise that now," he said.

His mother said: "We have been very angry with him and told him what the consequences will be. We have told him that he has to change his lifestyle and the drinking has to stop."

Amanda Sawetz, prosecuting, said WPC Julie May went to the scene of a single vehicle accident in Marsh Lane at Rowde at 2am on Saturday November 3 and found a Vauxhall car on its roof.

The teenager, who had been the only occupant, was standing near the car and the officer noticed he smelled of drink and was slurring his words. A breath test showed an alcohol content of 89 compared with the legal maximum of 35.

He told the officer that he thought he had seen someone walking in the carriageway and had swerved to avoid them. After being arrested he told the officer: "I deserve it."

Stephen Clifford, who represented the teenager, said he was full of remorse. "He really learned a lesson that night as to why people should not drink and drive."

Mr Clifford said the teenager had done a friend a favour by driving him home to Bromham when he should have realised he was not fit to drive. "He is annoyed that he could have been so stupid."

Mr Clifford added that the teenager had bought his car, which was only insured for third party, fire and theft, with £2,000 borrowed from his grandfather and would have to continue repaying him although he would not be getting anything from the insurers.