A YOUNG driver who smashed into another car, injuring a woman, was nearly three times the drink-drive limit, a court heard.

Christopher Bailey, 22, of Linton Road, Loose, near Maidstone, drank up to 14 pints while out in Maidstone on Saturday, October 7, and topped it up with two more beers for Sunday lunch.

Maidstone Magistrates Court heard that he then got into his Ford Mondeo to drive to his father’s garage.

Bailey, who admitted drink driving, had previously been disqualified for 18 months for a similar offence. He may now face a “high” community punishment order and a lengthy ban, magistrates warned.

Margarita Mitchell, prosecuting, told the court that police were called to Bircholt Road, Maidstone, on Sunday, October 8, where they found Bailey standing outside his severely damaged Mondeo and Kent Ambulance staff treating a woman from a second car.

A breath test revealed he had 93mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg per 100ml of breath.

Bailey’s solicitor told the court he had mistakenly believed he had waited long enough for the alcohol to have left his system.

The magistrates told Bailey: “We feel this offence was committed recklessly. This is serious enough to carry a high community sentence.”

The case was adjourned until Thursday, November 2.