A MAN who allowed a learner to drive his car after they had been out drinking has been banned for six months by Blackburn magistrates.

Adam John Stevenson, 19, of Mitton Road, Whalley, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Christopher Chandler to drive with excess alcohol and without insurance.

As well as the disqualification he was fined £350 with £55 costs.

The court heard that Stevenson, a trainee hotel manager at Eaves Hall Country Club, West Bradford, had met friends in Clitheroe after working late on a Friday night. He had one drink before driving home and leaving his car.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said that at about 2.50am a newsagent in Woone Lane, Clitheroe, was wakened by the sound of a car crashing into the front of his shop.

When he went outside he spoke to Stevenson and Chandler before calling the police.

When an officer arrived he saw the two men walking away from the scene. When he spoke to them Stevenson at first claimed the car had been stolen from the Tesco car park four hours earlier and he had just seen it.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said the first thing Stevenson said to the officer had been out of "confusion, panic and not a little stupidity."

He said the two friends had been walking back from Rendezvous nightclub when the talk turned to how Christopher was doing with his driving.

"They decided Christopher could show how he was doing," said Mr Blacklidge. "On their way back he was taken by surprise by some no entry signs, panicked and crashed."