A?LEARNER driver who celebrated getting his first car by driving around with three friends on the bonnet and roof has been banned before he even had a chance to take his test.

Shane Toms was 17 when he bought a second hand Nissan Micra and was showing off to his friends when he was caught on CCTV driving around Holsworthy in Devon at 2am.

It showed him going at speed around the main square and the wrong way down a one way street with one friend on the roof and two on the bonnet.

Police found the car with extensive damage in a car park the next morning and Toms admitted he had been showing off.

Bin cleaner Toms, now aged 18, of The Square, Holsworthy, admitted dangerous driving and was banned from driving for 12 months by Judge Timothy Rose at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: “This was an unusual case. It was serious but it was also completely and utterly idiotic and frankly, beyond belief.

“You had obtained the car that day, even though you could not drive it legally, and you had three people on top of it. Your visibility was reduced and you must have been distracted by it.

“You drove in such a way that put everyone, even if they were also being stupid and idiotic, at risk. Heaven knows what would have happened if they fell off. They could have gone under the wheels.”

Miss Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said a Nissan Micra was seen being driven around the centre of Holsworthy in the early hours of October 1 last year and was found with extensive damage the next day.

CCTV showed Toms driving with one youth on the roof and two on the bonnet. Toms told police he had just bought the vehicle and didn’t really know how to drive because he had only had a few lessons.

Mr Christopher Andrews, defending, said: “It was the day when he got his new car and he was showing off to his mates. They were all laughing and giggling. It was the completely stupid act of a young man.

“It was an idiotic thing to do and high spirits. There was no danger to any member of the public other than the three people on the car.”

Toms also admitted an unrelated case of causing grievous bodily harm. His brother Owen, aged 19, admitted common assault.

Toms was ordered to do 180 hours unpaid community work, 20 days supervision, and pay £500 compensation. His brother was fined £250.