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Young drink driver swipes squad car

Many of us have done things we later regretted whilst under the influence of alcohol, but few can compete with the 'tale of unbelievable stupidity' (his magistrate's words) that befell 25-year-old driver Christopher Hyde.

Hyde and a friend were out for a booze-fuelled spin with no valid licence or young driver car insurance when they were pulled over by the police.

Now, for most drink drivers, the point at which you're pulled over by the police marks the end of the adventure. But when Hyde's friend started getting violent enough to require restraint, the shandy-addled young driver saw a much more appealing option than coming along quietly.

He hopped into the vacant police car, yelled "See ya" at the dumbfounded lawmen and sped off down the road.

Hyde's getaway was short lived, however. After driving a short distance he abandoned the marked Ford Focus and made off on foot. Trailing police found the car, and recaptured him soon after.

At his subsequent court appearance in Weymouth, Dorset, Hyde was warned to expect a jail sentence by magistrates. He faces charges of drink driving, theft of a police vehicle, resisting an officer and driving without a licence or young driver car insurance.

"There wasn't much chance of Hyde making good on his escape bid," commented Mike Page, spokesman for the cheap car insurance experts at Hoot.

"I'm surprised at how easy it was for him to steal the police car, though," he added. "It's dumb luck that he found the keys in the ignition."