A young man sobbed in the dock after admitting he had been drink driving when he crashed a car at a roundabout.

Linus Baker-Davies, of Wheeler Street, Headcorn, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Mark Kateley, prosecuting, said that on August 25 and into August 26, the 19-year-old had been drinking vodka.

“In the early hours he left the house to have a smoke and then went on to try various car door handles.

“He came across a vehicle that was unlocked with a spare key inside. He did not know the owner.”

Mr Kateley said the teenager drove the Peugeot 307 for about 15 to 20 minutes before crashing on Sutton Road, Maidstone, hitting a chevron sign and causing up to £700 of damage to the car.

“He tried to restart the car but couldn’t,” he added. “It was blocking the road. Police came along and he was arrested.”

A breath test revealed 59 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 35.

Unemployed Baker-Davies pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, drink driving, driving without insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

He told magistrates he was “extremely apologetic” but broke down when the court clerk asked for an explanation for what had happened.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports and he is due before Sevenoaks magistrates on October 4.