8:30am Saturday 28th April 2007
By Stephanie Tye
AN uninsured teenage mechanic who borrowed a company car and then crashed it on a jaunt with his friends told Swindon Magistrates' Court it was a moment of stupidity.
Daniel Ball, of Eastcott Road, took a brand new Peugeot 207 from the Fish Brothers car dealers at Mannington to drive home on February 16.
Prosecuting, Philomena Creffield said the 19-year-old had not asked permission and took the keys from a safe.
"While he had the car he took a group of friends up to Barbury Castle," she said."On the way back, on Hackpen Lane, a deer jumped out into the road which forced Mr Ball to swerve to avoid it. He went off the road and crashed the car."
Ball was travelling at approximately 40mph in a 60mph zone.
More than £3,000 worth of damage was done to the car.
Ball called the emergency services and his employers to tell them what had happened.
It was then he discovered he was not insured. But he told the court he did not realise the insurance that covered him while he was driving cars for work did not extend after office hours.
Representing himself, Ball told the court that he was truly sorry for what he had done.
"I am guilty of both charges and I have done my best to right the wrong I have done," he said.
"I have paid for the damage to the car and lost my job as a result. I now want to repair the damage I have done because of my stupidity."
Sentencing Ball, chairman of the bench Martin Smith said they were both serious offences.
"You took the vehicle from your employer without their permission and you also drove without insurance," he said.
"If you had hit another person you would be facing a prison sentence. And in the worst case scenario, aggravated vehicle taking can mean prison."
Mr Smith told Ball it was clear he meant to take the vehicle, however magistrates believed that he did think he was insured.
"You are genuinely remorseful and we wish more people took the steps you have to pay back the money and harm they have done," he said.
Ball received a 12-month conditional discharge for aggravated vehicle taking, and was given six points on his licence for driving without insurance and ordered to pay £60 court costs.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk