A teenager found sat in the driver’s seat of a car with cans of beer has avoided a ban.

Charlie Tompsett came to the attention of the police after a member of the public reported a suspected drink-driver in a car park in Tonbridge.

When officers arrived they saw Tompsett sitting in a Vauxhall Astra with several cans of alcohol.

The 18-year-old was arrested and taken to Tonbridge police station where he refused to do a breath test.

He also started to abuse officers and told them to f*** off.

Tompsett of Birken Road, Tunbridge Wells, was later charged with being in charge of a vehicle having been required to provide a specimen of breath for analysis and admitted the offence when he appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (May 2).

The incident happened on March 11.

Terry Knox, prosecuting, told district judge Stephen Leake: “He was sat in the driver’s seat and officers could smell alcohol and there were beer cans in the vehicle. He was arrested and taken to Tonbridge Police Station where he refuses to do a test. It was a deliberate refusal.

“He then started abusing the officers and told them to f*** off.”

Judge Leake was told Tompsett had no intention of driving the car, which belonged to someone he knew, as he had no licence to drive one and only intended to sleep in the vehicle until he sobered up.

He was never charged in relation to the allegation of abusing the officers.

Judge Leake said he accepted Tompsett had no intention of driving on the day in question and fined him £200 and endorsed his licence with 10 points.

Tompsett was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 plus £85 costs.