A 22-YEAR-OLD Fairford man who crashed into a neighbour’s car after drinking with friends, left the scene and then was later found by police in the garden of his home, a court heard yesterday.

Mark Western of Maidencroft Cottages, Kempsford, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.

Prosecuting layer Jeremy Oliver said: “It was 10.40pm on August 29 when police received a 999 call from the neighbour saying that the defendant had crashed into her car.

“When officers arrived at the scene they found a silver Ford Fiesta almost blocking the road at Kempsford.”

Police knocked on the defendant’s door and his mother answered, the court heard.

They found the defendant in the garden and noted that he smelled strongly of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet.

“A roadside breath test showed him to be way over the limit so he was arrested and taken to the police station,” said Mr Oliver.

“At the station he failed to give an adequate breath test, despite being given four opportunities.”

Defending lawyer Steve Young said: “This was an unfortunate sequence of events.

“The plan that evening was to get a taxi and go drinking with his friends but his car was blocking a driveway and so he drove it less than 100 metres to be nearer his home.”

The court heard that the owner of the other vehicle – a female neighbour – was angry and called the police.

“My client was confused and nervous at the police station and tried his best to give a sample of breath but he was unable to do so,” said Mr Young.

“He has already paid his neighbour £350 to pay for the damage to her car.”

Magistrates imposed a six-week curfew, banned Western from driving for 17 months and ordered him to pay £85 prosecution costs.