A raver who had been out partying on New Year's Eve crashed his BMW into a lamppost and ended up in a field.

A court heard Stan Pike, who had only passed his test the previous month, felt he had let his mum down after being charged with drink-driving.

The 21-year-old's car was spotted by police in Broadstairs at around 2.40am on New Year's Day as they were travelling towards Margate.

Officers found the car the wrong way around in a field and stopped at the scene.

They found Pike in the car, which was a write-off.

He was taken to hospital as a precaution and was asked to do a breath test and gave a reading of 62 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He was later charged with drink-driving and admitted the offence when he appeared at Margate Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 2.

The court heard Pike, of Allington Street, Ramsgate, had only passed his test in December.

Dylan Bradshaw, prosecuting, said: "Officers were in Broadstairs travelling towards Margate when they spotted a vehicle in a field facing the wrong way. It had collided with a lamppost, then went into a nearby field.

"It was a fatal injury to the car; there was a small crack in the engine.

"He was taken to hospital where he provided a breath test and gave a reading of 62."

Alan Balneaves, defending, told magistrates Pike had been out raving that evening.

He had stopped drinking early and felt fit and well to drive, and by being charged had let him mum down.

"This was a horrific accident you are very fortunate you were not killed..."

Magistrates banned Pike from driving for 20 months and fined him £288 and ordered he pay a victim surcharge of 115 and £85 costs.

Chairman of the bench, Diane August said: "This was a horrific accident you are very fortunate you were not killed.

"It's a real risk to drink and drive. It's better to have nothing.

"When you drink and drive in a car, it's like a lethal weapon."

If Pike completes a drink-driving course, his ban will be reduced by a quarter.