AN ISLE of Wight driver panicked after police spotted him while he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and he drove on the wrong side of the road.

Joseph Graham, of St Martin's Road, Wroxall, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, September 10.

The 18-year-old admitted driving without due care and attention and driving without a seat belt, on the outskirts of Ryde, on December 21 of last year.

A further charge of obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty was withdrawn.

Prosecutor, Lauren Stone, said the attention of police officers on duty was drawn to a Ford Fiesta entering Tesco car park off Brading Road.

She said the vehicle was being driven quicker than would be expected of a careful, competent driver, while there were a lot of pedestrians about.  

The driver left the car park, drove on the wrong side of the road, and other motorists had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Nick Muir, defending, said Graham had autism and ADHD and knew cars very well.

He said he was fixing the brakes on a friend’s car on the day, and at around 10am he took the car to the Tesco fuelling station and then into the car park.

Mr Muir said Graham forgot to put on his seat belt after leaving the petrol station, panicked when he was spotted by police, and was not thinking straight.

The court heard a lot was going on in his mind, and still panicking, he drove on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Muir said Graham was looking for work in car mechanics, had learnt his lesson, and was keen to be back on the road legitimately as soon as possible.

Graham was fined £162, and his driving record was endorsed with seven penalty points.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £100 and a £65 surcharge.