A JUDGE called a young motorist ‘a twit’ after hearing how he tried to protect his pal by falsely telling police he was driving a speeding car.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how, as a result of his deception 23-year-old, Whitehaven man Kristian Tinkler was initially charged with drink-driving.

When the truth came out, that charge was dropped.

But police then went on to charge Tinkler with perverting the course of the justice.

The defendant, of Stanley View, Mirehouse, Whitehaven, admitted that offence.

The judge imposed a one year community order, with 100 hours of unpaid work. He also endorsed six penalty points on to the defendants’s driving licence for the additional offence - also admitted - of permitting an uninsured person to drive his car.