TOTLAND TEEN WHO HAD BEEN CELEBRATING NEW YEAR’S CRASHED CAR WHILST DRUNK

A teenager who claimed to Police to have drunk from a bottle of white rum, but only after crashing his car, has been handed an 18-month driving ban. Morgan Streeter, 19, of The Avenue in Totland, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with drink driving relating to an incident that happened on New Year’s Day. It was at around 14:00 on 1st January that Streeter was involved in a single-vehicle collision on the B3401 Middle Road, between Carisbrooke and Calbourne. His Mini Cooper had collided with a kerb, ripping the wheel from the chassis – as previously reported by Island Echo. Police responded to the incident and soon identified the driver, who then pulled out a clear glass bottle of white rum. Streeter told officers that he had drunk from the bottle following the crash. At the Police station, almost 2 hours after the crash, the 19-year-old blew a reading of 62. The legal limit is 35. The ‘hip flask’ defence wasn’t carried through to the court case though with Morgan Streeter pleading guilty to the single charge against him. Defending, Oscar Vincent said that his client had been celebrating New Year’s Eve the night before the crash and only drove when he felt ok. Mr Vincent explained to the court that Streeter had an errand to run in Newport and was driving back to his home in Totland when the crash occurred. Mr Vincent said that the teen – who works as a chef – had ‘learnt his lesson’ and has not drunk alcohol since the crash just over 2 weeks ago. Magistrates handed the 19-year-old an 18-month driving ban and fined him £120. Streeter was ordered to pay £85 costs with a £48 surcharge.