TEENAGER Kristopher Herrington went off the rails after being awarded thousands of pounds compensation for severe injuries sustained in an accident, a court heard yesterday.

His solicitor Andrew Tinning said Herrington, 19, of Kirkham Road, Bilton, Harrogate, had received a large sum of money.

Mr Tinning told Harrogate magistrates: "Because he has money and a car he is seen as being useful to people, to buy them drinks and the like. His so-called friends are also involved in drugs and he got involved.''

Mr Tinning said in May Herrington had been caught drink-driving within weeks of getting back on the road after an 18-month ban for a similar offence.

He had admitted the new charge, was made subject to an interim driving disqualification and was due to be sentenced next week after probation reports were prepared on him.

But Herrington had still been persuaded to give lifts to friends while on bail and twice in six days last month he had been caught defying the ban.

Herrington pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while disqualified and without insurance and also admitted careless driving and failing to stop after an accident.

An application for bail was refused by court chairman David Davies and Herrington was remanded in custody until Wednesday.