Under-age driver crashed sister’s car

Teenager ran off with pal but handed himself in

A teenage joyrider has been banned from the roads for two years and told to pay nearly £1000 after taking his sister’s car and crashing it into another vehicle.

The Plains youth, who turned 17 last week and cannot be named for legal reasons, collided with another car on Whifflet Road in January.

He and his passenger fled the scene before the accused, who was too young to drive, handed himself in at Coatbridge police office.

His solicitor revealed his sister is still not on speaking terms with him due to the incident at the start of the year.

The procurator fiscal said: “In the early afternoon of January 27 a lady was driving on Whifflet Road and saw a vehicle driving towards her before colliding.

“The accused and a passenger got out and ran off before the police were contacted.

“A PNL check showed who the car was addressed to and she received a call later on from the accused, saying he had taken her car and been involved in an accident.

“Police officers spoke to her and she told them about the phone call.

“On January 28 the accused went to Coatbridge police office and said he wanted to hand himself in for ‘taking my sister’s car and crashing it’.

“The woman in the other vehicle suffered minor whiplash but did not need treatment.”

The teenager’s solicitor Paul Kelly said: “His family weren’t impressed at all by this and his sister hasn’t been speaking to him since.

“He is 17 years old and this has been scary for him. “His family are supportive of him. “He thought it would be fun to try and drive it in the street but, after building up some confidence, took it to the main road.

“He assures me he won’t be attempting to drive any more vehicles and it’s not lost on him how serious this could have been.”

Sheriff Morag Shankland told the youth: “You’ve learnt a hard lesson here.

“You could have killed someone. It’s happened before and it could have happened to you.

“You’re disqualified from driving for a total of two years and are fined £750.

“You’ll also pay your sister £200 in compensation and this can be paid at the rate of £30 per week.”

You could have killed someone. It’s happened before and it could have happened to you.