A TEENAGER was found to be over the drink-drive limit after reversing her best friend's new car into a wall.

Tara Ballard, aged 18, had been out drinking with Sarah Roberts at a pub in Evesham, Worcester magistrates heard yesterday.

Julie Rosamond, prosecuting, said the pair spent several hours drinking at the Bridge Inn before Ballard told her friend she wanted to go and lie down in her car.

"She took her keys from her bag and went to lie down for a while," she said.

But when she woke up, she drove the car down the road, said Ms Rosamond.

"A car was coming in the opposite direction. It is a narrow lane so she reversed, but hit a garden wall, causing extensive damage to the car and some damage to the wall," she said.

Ms Rosamond said the driver of the other car, a taxi that the friends had ordered to take them into Evesham town centre, went to help her but smelled alcohol on her breath and called the police.

A blood test gave a reading of 95mg of alcohol to 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Ballard, of Stratford Road, Honeybourne, admitted drink-driving, driving without insurance and aggravated vehicle taking.

Christopher Hilton, defending, said the incident, which happened on Sunday, December 8 last year, had put a great strain on the girls' relationship.

He said Miss Roberts had bought the car only a couple of months earlier.

"It was her pride and joy. Miss Ballard has felt deeply ashamed and very guilty for what has happened," he said.

He said Ballard repeatedly called herself an "idiot" when interviewed by police.

She panicked when she was told Miss Roberts had already left the pub, he added.

Magistrates gave her a 12-month rehabilitation order, disqualified her from driving for a year and ordered her to pay £3,300 compensation to her friend.