A YOUNG motorist caught circling a car park with a passenger hanging out of the front passenger window has been banned from driving for 15 months.

Stephanie Whitfield was caught on CCTV driving around Feethams Car Park, near Darlington Town Hall, in a “stupid” manner on the night of June 18 this year.

The footage was shown to magistrates at Newton Aycliffe today (Thursday, October 10).

In the five-minute film, the 23-year-old circled a lamppost several times in her black Citroen C4, before driving around the car park with a female passenger hanging out of the window.

The car park was quiet but a few pedestrians and vehicles can be seen.

Chris Bunting, prosecuting, said: “Clearly the passenger consented to what was going on but there was a high risk of harm and injury.

“At the point when she circled the lamp post there was a large possibility of that person losing their grip and we are talking about a car park with a concrete surface.”

Whitfield, of Conyers Terrace, Ferryhill, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Warren Ridley, mitigating, said Whitfield, who had no previous convictions, was devastated to lose her good character and was full of remorse for her “stupidity.”

He said she had been upset following her grandfather's death and had been trying to get out the house as much as possible to avoid slipping into depression.

Whitfield, who is due to return to work at a care home in a few weeks time, was banned from driving for 15 months.

She was also ordered to pay a £183 fine, £85 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge