A ROYAL engineer's promising career in the army has ended after admitting to crashing his car while being twice the legal drink drive limit.

Corporal Stephen Moyle, 32, based at Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, will now leave the army after admitting drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Medsay magistrates were told Moyle had been to his work's Christmas party at the King Charles Hotel, when he lost control of his Ford Focus along Gillingham High Street, on Friday, December 3.

He crashed into five cast-iron bollards before driving off and abandoning his car in Fox Street.

He later went back to collect it and drove it back to his barracks, which is where the police found it. It was there officers gave Moyle a breath test which showed he was twice over the legal limit and was arrested.

He told police he had panicked and driven off. He also told officers he was ashamed of his actions and angry with himself for letting the army and his family down.

The court heard that Cpl Moyle, who admitted both charges, had been in the army for more than 14 years and had had faultless career.

One of his superiors, Cpt Carnochan said: "He has been posted to numerous places during his career and had served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland and had also been based in Germany. He is held in good respect by his colleagues and was a no-nonsense man who had a well above exemplary and faultless career."

Cpt Carnochan told the bench that Moyle could have remained in the army but because of the conviction, would never be able to further his career and would never get a promotion.

Chair of the bench, Dr Lawrence Mulheirn, told Moyle: "Sometimes we have very difficult decisions to make. Given that you have served your country well, we must be grateful for the work you have done in the army. But the stupidity on your part is sad to us all."

Dr Mulheirn told Moyle he had no choice but to ban him for a year and fine him £400 with £43 court costs.