A TEENAGER who defended himself after being accused of repeatedly playing his car stereo at deafening levels was cleared in court yesterday.

Jamie Dyas, from Newbridge, was summoned to court for allegedly turning up the stereo full blast in his gold Mini Cooper on two separate occasions while driving through Blackwood town centre on July 16.

The 18-year-old, from Brynheulog Road, declined to pay a fixed penalty notice on the night and elected to contest the offence contained under by-law number six of the Local Government Act of 1972.

PC Roy Bell, of Blackwood police station, told the court he heard Mr Dyas' music before he saw his car pulling into the Asda car park.

"We could hear the music long before we could see him, it was that loud," said PC Bell. "It is hard to explain how loud it was."

Mr Dyas drove into the Blockbusters car park nearby and PC Bell, who was accompanied by PC Steve Bull, pulled alongside him.

PC Bell said when he offered Mr Dyas the option of a fixed penalty notice because of the loud music, he replied: 'Yes, well it is private land until Asda make a complaint."

PC Bell told the court that around half an hour later he was on the High Street, booking another motorist, when he heard Mr Dyas driving past, playing loud music from his stereo system.

He immediately radioed his colleague, PC Steve Julke, to pull over the gold-coloured Mini and book the driver.

During his evidence PC Julke said he wasn't aware of any excessive noise when he was following the car along the High Street.

Chairwoman of the magistrates Pamela Powell said PC Julke's evidence that he heard no noise nuisance when pulling over My Dyas had been a determining factor in assessing the case.

She said: "We are concerned about Mr Dyas's behaviour but we feel it stopped short of being a public nuisance and therefore we dismiss the case."

On being told he was free to leave the court, Mr Dyas replied: "Sweet as."