A DRINK-driver who failed to negotiate a bend and hit a tree was later found by police at a bus shelter about one mile away, a court heard.

Dominic Phillpott (21) had nearly three times the legal level of alcohol in his system.

Phillpott, of Glendevon Place, Whitefield, admitted a charge of driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before Bury magistrates.

Mr Ian Walsh, prosecuting, said Phillpott lost control of his vehicle in Hazel Avenue, Whitefield, when he tried to negotiate a right hand bend. He slammed into a tree, but got out, locked up the vehicle and walked away.

Minutes later two officers alerted to the accident went to Phillpott's home and spoke to family members. Eventually the defendant was located at a bus shelter in Hollins Lane. He admitted he had been driving the car and that he had been in a crash.

He commented: "I've been very stupid."

A test showed him to have 100 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit if 35mg.

A man of previous good character, Phillpott told the bench:"I can only apologise. A friend had just come back from holiday and had brought some liqueur which did not suit me. It's something I regret."

After reading reports, the bench decided to make Phillpott subject to a community punishment order for 80 hours, as well as a six-week curfew, and banned him from driving for two years.