Drunk Hebburn man took his brother’s car and crashed it into a house
A drunk South Tyneside man who drove his brother’s car without consent and crashed it into the wall of a house and a car on the driveway, could be jailed.
Andrew Leonard, 36, took the keys for the VW Crafter motor which had been left by his sibling at their grandmother’s home on Friday, July 25.
After his brother departed for the night, Leonard, of Highback Close, Hebburn, got behind the wheel and drove off, a court heard.
But soon afterwards he smashed the vehicle into the exterior wall of a property in nearby College Road – and careered into a parked car.
Police called to the scene breathalysed him and he was arrested after being found to be over twice the legal booze limit.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, Leonard pleaded guilty to charges of taking a vehicle without consent and drink driving.
Magistrates imposed a temporary driving ban and adjourned the case for an all-options pre-sentence report, meaning a custodial sentence is possible.
Prosecutor Lauren Fisher said: “The complainant is the defendant’s brother. He says he parked his van outside their grandmother’s address.
“He then went to spend the night at his partner’s. The defendant has taken the vehicle without consent and has crashed it into the exterior front wall of a property.
“When officers arrived, he appeared intoxicated and provided a sample of breath. He had also crashed into a Fiat 500 on the driveway.
“There’s an application for costs of £85 and compensation for the damage to the wall.”
In a victim statement, Leonard’s brother said he was aware his sibling had had “some difficulties for quite some time”.
He also revealed he had been unable to work for three weeks due to the damage to his van.
Ritchie Rodger, defending, told magistrates: “I suspect you will want a pre-sentence report. The case will have to be adjourned.”
Magistrates told Leonard he will be given credit for his early guilty pleas and will be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, March 11.
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