South Shields teenager spared jail after taking his sister's car as she slept and crashing into roundabout

Jobless Stephen Hobbs, 19, of Claypit Close, near River Drive, South Shields, collided with a roundabout, blowing out a tyre of Jade Hobbs’ black Vauxhall Corsa during his early morning escapade in Gateshead on Monday, September 23.

The previous evening he had called her to ask if he could pop round to see her at her Sunderland home as he was visiting a friend nearby, arriving soon after midnight, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Keith Laidlaw said Hobbs took the car sometime after Ms Hobbs and her then partner went to bed at 2.30am.

He added: “That was the last time that she saw him. At 8am she was awoken by the police to say her car had been taken and her brother had been involved in an accident in Gateshead.

“PC Scott was on duty just after 7am when he sees the Vauxhall Corsa. He sees in the front seat a man he knows to be Stephen Hobbs. The near side front wheel was flat. He said that he had hit a roundabout.”

Although Ms Hobbs refused to support the police prosecution, she did provide a statement at the time of the crime, in which she said: “I’m in total shock.

“I let my brother into my house and when I was asleep he took my car. To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement.”

Jason Smith, defending, said Hobbs, who had originally pleaded not guilty to aggravated vehicle taking but admitted the offence the day before his planned trial earlier this month, wanted to “take responsibility for what he had done”.

He added: “It’s minor damage, it’s a tyre. He was subject to a suspended sentence at the time for a dissimilar offence, that is the only conviction on his record.

“He was at his sister’s house and he wanted to go to see a friend, so he took the car to see his friend. It was the early hours of the morning, there was no other traffic on the road. He just wanted to go and see his friend and return.”

A magistrate said Hobbs could have been jailed for the offence.

Gary Cracknell, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, told him: “This could have ended up a custodial sentence. It was a stupid thing to do.

“I don’t expect you’ll do that again. Let’s hope you don’t bother the court service again.”

Hobbs, who also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and without insurance, was given a one-year driving ban and a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 25 rehabilitation days with the Probation Service and 80 hours of unpaid work.

He was fined £50 for breaching his suspended sentence and must pay his sister £75.60 compensation, £300 court costs and a £90 victim surcharge.