17-year-old told he's not 'mature enough' to be behind wheel
A teenage motorist from Douglas has been banned from the road after being caught with cocaine in his system.
Daniel Shane Phillip Friel, of Heather Crescent, failed a drug wipe test after crashing his Vauxhall Astra into a fence on 21 October last year.
Police officers who attended the scene, on Ballaquayle Road, found the 17-year-old to be nervous, sweating and hyperactive.
A subsequent blood test showed he had more than twice the legal limit of a derivative of the Class A drug in his bloodstream.
Friel admitted the offence during an appearance at Douglas Courthouse – his advocate told the court the teenager had consumed cocaine whilst on a trip to the UK two days earlier.
Telling the court Friel had thought he was safe to drive he added: “Clearly the effects of the drug varies between people.”
Disqualifying Friel from driving for two years High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told him: “Whatever you thought you clearly weren’t in a position to drive the vehicle.
“Quite frankly it seems to me you’re not mature enough yet to be driving.”
Friel will remain banned until he’s taken and passed an extended driving test – he’ll also have to pay a £1,000 fine and prosecution costs of £125.
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