A DISPUTE between two drivers led to a teenager stealing a Peugeot van and crashing it into lamppost, a court heard.

Ian McKenna was a passenger in a car with friends when a van was said to have rammed into them.

A dispute followed, which led to McKenna, 19, getting into the driver’s seat of the offending van and crashing it nearby.

In the process he also pocketed an iPhone 7 belonging to the van driver, Newton Aycliffe magistrates’ court heard.

McKenna, 19, from Melsonby Crescent, Darlington, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, theft of an iPhone, having no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, when he appeared before the court.

John Garside, prosecuting, said: “On Sunday, October 30, the victim was driving his Peugeot van along Morton Road and collided with another vehicle.

“There was an altercation and the van driver felt concerned for his safety and ran away, but noticed Mr McKenna in the driving seat of his vehicle. A PCSO arrived and found the defendant walking away from the Peugeot van, which he had crashed.

“He was arrested and a search carried out. A black iPhone was recovered from the defendant.”

Graham Hunsley, in mitigation, said: “The van ran into them. The driver of Mr McKenna’s vehicle got out and said ‘why have you rammed me?’

“The belief was that it was deliberate. The passengers got out of both vehicles and the van was still rammed up against the vehicle he was in.

“Whatever altercation was going on with the others, he didn’t take part in it.

“Taking on some sort of grudge on behalf of the driver he got into the vehicle, moved it away from the place they were parked and thought it was tit for tat.

“Having moved it away he turned it round and drove it into a lamppost.

“He didn’t have to get involved but effectively took umbridge on behalf of his friend, the driver of the car he was travelling in.”

It was not known how much damage McKenna caused to the van as it had been involved in two collisions in a short space of time, magistrates were told.

The court heard McKenna had 16 previous convictions, but this was only his second adult court appearance.

He was given a 12 month community order, banned from driving for 12 months, and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.