A drunk L-driver crashed a car and made off, leaving behind his injured best friend as it burst into flames, a court heard.

Police were able to free the pal from the Ford Mondeo despite him being comatose and having a broken collarbone.

Inebriated Scott Weston had taken over at the wheel of the friend’s car because he was too drunk to drive, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Police followed the car as the 20-year-old labourer repeatedly swerved across the road and ignored red lights.

He lost control at a roundabout on The Esplanade in Rochester and crashed onto a grass embankment. He fled as police officers gave chase on foot.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said officers managed to free the passenger, despite concerns about him having a neck injury as the car went up in flames in the early hours of November 13 last year.

Weston, of Bingley Close, Snodland, admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving, failing to stop and driving without a licence.

He had 82 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

But he was spared locking up when he appeared for sentence.

Suspending three months youth custody for 15 months, Judge Jeremy Carey told him: “Your driving was not only appalling - driving off at speed when you realised the police wanted you to stop - but also, and more significantly, it put not just your passenger in danger but others too.

“A vehicle driven by someone in drink is a lethal weapon.”

Weston was also banned from driving for 18 months, fined £250 and ordered to pay £450 court costs.

Eve George, defending, said Weston was still best friends with the car owner.

“It was an incredibly foolish thing to do and he feels disgusted with himself,” she added.