A JEALOUS boyfriend grabbed the wheel of his girlfriend’s car causing it to veer off the road and crash into a car and a house causing £20,000 worth of damage.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, yesterday heard Cory Thomas West was angry that his partner had attracted attention from other men during an evening out when he seized the steering wheel.

His action caused the Audi A4 convertible to career off Haughton Road in Darlington and into a parked car, before crashing into a house, damaging the garden wall, a wrought iron gate and the garage.

No-one was injured in the incident, which occurred at about 10.20pm on Wednesday, July 13, but both cars were written off and substantial damage was caused to the property.

West, of Throstlenest Avenue, Darlington, pleaded guilty to interfering with a motor vehicle in a way that endangered other road users.

Rachel Dodsworth, prosecuting, said: “This was an extremely serious situation with a risk of serious physical harm not only to pedestrians and other road users but to the defendant himself and his partner.”

She said the 22-year-old had been drunk at the time, adding: “The offence is also domestic violence in nature as the person driving the vehicle was the defendant’s partner.”

The cost of the damage to West’s partner’s car has not been confirmed but Mrs Dodsworth said the car it collided with, a Peugeot 208, had only recently been bought on hire purchase and had received a written off value of £11,600.

Magistrates heard the female victim had already paid out hundreds of pounds in excess fees and other charges. Her insurance premium has also increased from £88 per month to £165 per month, which equates to an additional £924 a year.

The cost of the damage to the property totalled £7,240, with the homeowner having to pay out a £150 excess fee and an extra £11.81 per month for her insurance.

Andrew Clinton, mitigating, said: “This was a spur of the moment act. He was having an argument with his girlfriend and he did something stupid. and foolish. He never imagined it would cause so much damage.”

Magistrates committed the case to Teesside Crown Court for sentence. West received unconditional bail.