A YOUNG man was abandoned by the roadside with his car after a night out.

James Redman, 18, had allowed friends to drive his Hyundai Getz but when the car ran out of petrol on the A120 at Marks Tey, the group fled the car, leaving him alone and attempting to flag down a car for help at 4am.

But instead, a police car arrived.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday Redman, of The Croft, in Earls Colne, was “staggering around the highway and smelt of intoxicating liquor”.

When breathalysed, the marquee erector recorded 63mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

When officers searched Redman, who had to go to work in the morning, they found the car’s keys between his legs.

Redman admitted being in charge of a motor vehicle while drunk and having no insurance on the car.

The incident took place on August 21.

Magistrates ordered Redman to pay a total of £270, including a £155 fine for the “in charge” offence.

He was also disqualified from driving for 50 days.

No separate penalty was imposed for the car not being insured.