A TEENAGE mother was almost double the drink-drive limit when she crashed her boyfriend's car, Darlington Youth Court heard yesterday.

Police breath-tested the 17-year-old at the scene of the accident and she produced a reading of 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also admitted driving without a licence or insurance.

Derek Walton, prosecuting, said: "She does have a previous record and is regarded as a persistent young offender."

The teenager, who did not have any legal representation, said she knew she was over the legal drink-drive limit when she got in to the car.

Magistrates heard that her boyfriend was a passenger when the accident happened, which damaged the side of the car.

The defendant said: "I just wanted to see if I could drive."

Magistrates adjourned the case until December 3 for a pre-sentence report with a view to a community penalty.

The teenager was made subject to an interim disqualification.