MAN DROVE OFF IN FRIEND’S CAR AND CRASHED THROUGH HEDGE

Engineer was given keys for safekeeping

ENGINEER Jason Whiston took his friend’s car without asking and crashed it into a field.

The 23-year-old had been drinking at a pub when his mate handed over his car keys to avoid the temptation to drive home.

But instead of keeping the keys safely stored, Whiston decided to take the Volkswagen Scirocco for a spin and wrote it off in the process.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard police first became aware of the incident when they received a report of an abandoned vehicle in a field near Bignall End.

Prosecutor Alicia Perry said: “A call was made reporting a white VW car abandoned in a field at the junction of Deans Lane and Audley Road. The caller stated they had also seen a person running away from the location.

“The car had left the road and gone through a hedge. The owner was traced. He said he had been out drinking with friends, one of them being the defendant. He had put the defendant in charge of his car keys so he was not tempted to drive.

“The defendant then took the motor vehicle without his permission.

He lost control at the junction and crashed through the hedge causing major damage to the car.”

Whiston, of Oldcastle Avenue, Bradwell, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance. The court heard he had had already paid back half the £700 excess on his friend’s insurance claim.

Zoe Leese, mitigating, said: “He foolishly decided to drive the vehicle home without permission. He lost control.

“He is still friends with the complainant and intends to pay back the other £350 when he gets paid. He has had to tell his family and his employers about this. Apart from this incident he is an upstanding member of society.”

Magistrates handed Whiston a 12-month community order and ordered him to complete £120 hours of unpaid work.

Chairman of the bench Eric Ratcliffe said: “You are a very lucky young man because this was a serious offence.

You have taken a vehicle and crashed it. The fact you walked away from it was luck, never mind the damage you may have done to other people.” Whiston was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He must pay £350 compensation to the victim plus £185 court costs and a £90 victim surcharge.