A ‘VERY expensive bunny-hop’ is how a judge described a drunken prank which led to a teenager appearing in court for drink driving.

Lewis Myers, 18, of Streatlam Road, Darlington, was almost twice over the drink drive limit when he jumped into a car on Skinnergate on October 28 and released the handbrake, causing it to jump forward.

He told Darlington Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday, December 6) that it had been a prank to try and get his friend out of the car, but he was arrested for drink driving and driving without insurance when officers arrived at the scene.

Myers represented himself and pleaded guilty to both charges but put forward a special reasons argument against the drink driving charge, saying that the distance travelled was very short.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the incident which showed the vehicle jump forwards when Myers was in the driving seat.

District Judge Kristina Harrison said: “It must be the shortest distance I have ever seen driven.”

Prosecutor Hari Jandoo replied: “I can see that it is a kangaroo jump.”

Judge Harrison accepted Myers’ special reasons argument and said the offence was “quite simply not a normal excess alcohol matter”.

She fined him £90, ordered him to pay £50 towards court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

She also endorsed Myers’ licence with three points and told him: “It was a very expensive bunny-hop in a car wasn’t it.”