by Julia Roberts

A teenager who drove dangerously through Ashford while over the drink-drive limit has avoided being locked up.

A judge at Maidstone Crown Court said yesterday it was a shocking piece of driving by an inexperienced motorist.

Comparing him to legendary Argentianian champion Formula One driver Juan Fangio, Judge Philip Staman said: “If you think you can act as a latter day Fangio on the roads of Kent then you are rather putting yourself at risk.”

But the judge added that 18-year-old Ben Stewart had already been “self-punished” by his father who had imposed a driving ban and nightly curfew since his son’s arrest on April 25.

“You could not complain if I sent you to a young offenders’ institution for a substantial period of time,” he said.

“But if I do so all that you have achieved in the past would be wiped out.

"You would not have a job and at the end of the day that would not best serve the community.”

Trainee panel beater Stewart, of Kingsford Street, Mersham, Ashford, admitted dangerous driving along Hythe Road, The Ridgeway, Church Road, Lees Road, Manor Pound Lane and Canterbury Road.

He was at the wheel of a Citroen Saxo and the court heard that at times he veered onto the wrong side of the road.

Stewart also admitted drink-driving. He had 53 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milligrams of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Stewart was ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work within a year.

He was also banned from the road for a year and ordered to take an extended driving test.

Peter Alcock, defending, said the teenager had acted “wholly out of charcater” and the threat of a custodial sentence had had a profound effect.

“This is a young man who won’t be back,” he explained. “He is very sorry for what he has done.”