Woman, 18, in custody for string of offences (From This Is Wiltshire)

Woman, 18, in custody for string of offences

TEENAGER Samantha Fardon has been remanded in custody after crashing a stolen car while on the run for stealing a cheque and writing it out to herself.

The 18-year-old was also in breach of a community service order imposed earlier this year after she stole a chequebook from a doctor's house where she was working as a cleaner and cashed the cheques to the value of almost £5,000.

Magistrates heard that Fardon had pleaded guilty to theft of a cheque, making a false instrument, using a false instrument and failing to surrender to court when she appeared on April 5.

They adjourned the case to May 3 for pre-sentence reports to be prepared but the teenager again failed to attend the court.

However on the same day she crashed a car which she had earlier been loaned by someone with a view to it being repaired.

When she was later arrested she accepted that while the car was in her custody she had an accident when she reversed into an Audi in McDonalds' car park.

Fardon, of Ventnor Close, admitted aggravated taking without consent, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without insurance.

She also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to surrender, theft, making and using a false instrument and admitted being in breach of a community punishment order.

In January she was put on 200 hours community service and ordered to pay more than £3,000 compensation after stealing the chequebook.

Rob Ross, defending, said that his client had not attended for sentence because she had moved address.

He said that she thought that at some point she would be buying the car from the owner, but accepts she kept it without permission.

Magistrates adjourned the case for reports and remanded Fardon in custody.