A young soldier on leave left police to remove his mother's car from the centre of his home-town - after crashing it into a lamppost.
Simon Nichol, from Silloth in Cumbria, took the car for a 5am spin in what was described as "a moment of rashness" by his solicitor, after a full day's drinking in nearby Cockermouth on September 1st 2006.
After writing the car off, Nichol left it blocking a town centre road and made his way back home. It took Police nearly an hour to clear the obstruction before paying Nichol a visit and demanding he take a breathalyser test.
In the dock at Carlisle Magistrates Court on 13th September, the 18-year-old admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst unfit through drunkenness, failing to report an accident and driving without the proper licence or young driver car insurance.
On top of his forthcoming court sentence, Nichol can expect further punishment both from his superiors in the army and his mother - who is charging him £250 a month until he has reimbursed the full value of her wrecked car.
Mike Page, spokesman for the cheap car insurance experts at Hoot, said: "Pulling a stunt like this will make it much harder for Nichol to find a cheap car insurance quote in future - but it sounds like he has more pressing things to worry about than motor insurance right now.
"I hope he doesn't serve in a tank regiment," he added.