DRIVING into a dry stone wall and then leaving before police arrived has cost a teenager £300.

Scott Kevin Smith admitted driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident to police when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.

The 19-year-old of Northumberland Avenue in Bishop Auckland also admitted having two tyres with insufficient tread.

Prosecutor Blair Martin said police were called to Batts Terrace in Bishop Auckland at about 8.30am on July 13 after reports of a car colliding with a wall in a car park.

They found Smith’s silver Fiat Punto and were told that Smith and a passenger had left the scene.

Mr Martin said substantial damage had been caused to both the car and wall, and a check of the vehicle found the two front tyres had no tread on them.

The car belonged to Smith and he made full admissions about the crash when police contacted him, the court heard.

Mr Martin said Smith told officers that his foot had slipped off the accelerator.

Smith, an apprentice joiner, represented himself in court and said: “I am sorry for the trouble I have caused.”

Magistrates ordered him to pay £300 in fines and costs and put eight penalty points on his licence, which means his full licence will now revert to a provisional one.