A TEENAGE drink-driver was caught after a bid to haul his broken down vehicle with a tow rope round his waist.

Luke Atherton tried the strongman act in a Forfar street but failed to pull off the restart attempt and was then reported to police by residents whose door he had gone to seeking a push start.

Appearing before Sheriff Kevin Veal at the town’s court yesterday, 18-year-old Atherton, of Helen Street, admitted driving without L-plates or insurance and with excess alcohol (77 mics) in St Margaret’s Park on June 27.

The court heard the incident happened around 10pm when a girl was seen banging on the bonnet of a car in the street before Atherton took the tow rope and attempted to pull the vehicle using his own strength.

He then went to nearby house doors to ask residents if they could give him a tow or jump-start.

But one resident, noticing he was under the influence, phoned the police, the court was told.

Defence solicitor Pauline Fraser said her client, who held only a provisional licence, had fallen out with his girlfriend earlier that day and foolishly decided to drive his car round the block “to clear his head.”

His girlfriend had re-appeared when Atherton phoned her after the car broke down.

Sheriff Veal fined Atherton £350 and banned him from driving for 15 months.