A man who took his brother’s car without permission or a licence and collided with three parked vehicles has been handed an 18 month ban.
The 22-year-old’s solicitor told court it was “obviously a young man who was messing about in his brother’s car” and when he caused damage to the parked cars he “panicked” and made off
Christian-Bogdan Dantos, 22, of St Marks Wood in Tandragee, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and causing damage, failing to stop, failing to report, using a vehicle without insurance and no licence at Craigavon Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn, on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on April 19, police were called to an address in Tandragee following a report that three cars had been damaged.
A woman, who lived in the street, reported that she had heard a car with a “loud exhaust” going up and down the street before she heard a “loud bang.”
When she went to investigate, she saw an Audi A4 driving away with “black smoke” coming from it and observed that three parked cars had sustained damage.
Police enquiries led them to the defendant’s house where his brother, who owns the car, confirmed that he had not given permission for Dantos to drive the car.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and interviewed, during which he made full admissions.
Defence solicitor Conor Downey said it was “obviously a young man who was messing about in his brother’s car” and when he caused damage to the parked cars he “panicked” and made off.
District Judge Rosie Watters disqualified the defendant from driving for 18 months and ordered him to pay a fine of £550, along with the offender’s levy within 26 weeks.
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