A TEENAGE motorist was told by a court yesterday to drive by the rules of the Highway Code, and not his own.

Robert Harvey, 19, who was said to have served a one-year ban for drink-driving, was back before Harrogate magistrates after police observed his antics at the wheel of his Peugeot 106 in the centre of the town.

Simon Ostler, prosecuting, said Harvey, of Cornwall Road, Harrogate, had been in the car with two others. He had not been wearing a seat- belt and police had taken exception to the way he drove along Parliament Street.

The Peugeot had been in the outside lane, travelling erratically. Hard braking had followed hard acceleration and at one point, it had gone through a flashing amber light on a pedestrian crossing

Mr Ostler said the action had horrified police as a schoolgirl had been on the crossing and had to ''suddenly stop in her tracks'' as the Peugeot went past.

Police had followed and stopped Harvey, who when asked to sum up how he had been driving, had replied: ''A bit reckless.''

When Harvey pleaded guilty to inconsiderate driving and not wearing a seat- belt, he said he had only been travelling between 15 and 20 mph. He had been dropping friends off but had not been in any hurry.

''I realise this could have been quite serious and I apologise for my actions.''

Court chairman Mary Tennant told him: ''You are 19 and you have already lost your licence once. It is not a very pretty picture, is it?

''Now you are back again for unreasonable driving. It looks as though you are driving according to your own rules."

Fining Harvey £135 with £45 costs and four penalty points, Mrs Tennant told him: ''Let this be the last time we see you. Go and read the Highway Code.''