RESIDENTS were woken with a bang as a Ringtons Tea van smashed into a house, a court heard.

The van reversed away from the wreckage in Victoria Road, Thornaby, but shot forward again before the driver fled the scene.

Karl Hunt, 20, later told police that he had taken his brother’s firm’s van for a joyride with a pal after a party.

The other man saw sense and left him in the vehicle and Hunt, who was drunk and had never driven before, was trying to return it when he lost control at 6am last August 29.

Prosecutor Penny Bottomley told Teesside Crown Court Hunt claimed later he had been drinking until 4.45am.

His brother and partner were on holiday after leaving the keys to the Ringtons' van in the family home

She said: “He said that he had taken it with a mate, and he was driving it intending to take it back to his brother’s home but because of his own inexperience he had crashed it.

“He said that he had been drinking and had taken cannabis as well.”

The damage to the van was £8,000 and to the house £3,000.

Hunt had been sent to as young offender’s institution for 18 months in September 2013 for possession of heroin with intent to supply.

Graham Silvester, defending, said the other man drove Hunt but then left him in the van. In a panic to get it back Hunt drove it and hit the house.

He said that there was serious damage to the van and to the house but fortunately there was no physical injury to others.

The judge told Hunt that he could have put other drivers or pedestrians at risk.

Recorder Simon Phillips QC said: “You put others at serious risk from your driving.

“You admit that you were certainly intoxicated and you had no licence to drive.

“Very substantial costs were caused to the owner of the vehicle. You put others and yourself at risk and you caused no doubt significant worry and inconvenience to members of your family, his employers and the owner of the property.”

The judge added: “You had not long been released from custody, and you well know what it involves.

“You could not have complained if I had sent you back to detention.”

Hunt, of Oakland Avenue, Norton, was sentenced to 12 months detention suspended for 18 months with supervision and 100 hours unpaid work and disqualified for two years after he pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, no insurance and driving licence.