A TEENAGER has been banned from driving and ordered to carry out community service after crashing a car while over the drink drive limit.

The 17-year-old, of Wharton Gardens, Winsford, also pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article.

The court heard how police were called out to Northwich town centre shortly before midnight on June 2 and found a crashed Renault Clio abandoned at the side of the road.

A witness told police the vehicle was hers. 'At that point the defendant and another male came over. The defendant put his arms out and stated: 'I took it and crashed it - arrest me',' said Caroline Viviani, prosecuting.

The teenager was breathalysed at the roadside and subsequently arrested. He gave a second positive breath and was found to have 65mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, nearly twice the legal limit.

He admitted drink driving and driving without a licence or insurance at Vale Royal Youth Court on Wednesday.

Then, on June 4, police officers on mobile patrol spotted the defendant loitering at Chester Way, Northwich, and he ran away.

'Officers chased him, jumping over garden fences and asking him to stop.'

Ms Viviani told the court. When he was apprehended he was carrying a six-inch kitchen knife.

Shirley Duckworth, defending, said the defendant's first criminal conviction came at the age of 11, and he had left school with no qualifications.

The defendant, who told magistrates he was 'very sorry', was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service, disqualified from driving for 16 months and told to pay £43 costs.