AN uninsured and unlicensed car taker is to be sentenced next month after leaving a trail of damage in a residential street.

Ryan Michael Drinkwater was at the wheel of a BMW, taken without consent in Chester-le-Street, on Saturday May 2, after which it was in collision with two other vehicles.

It resulted in damage being caused not only to the vehicle he was illegally driving, but also to another BMW and a Citroen, in Hilda Terrace, South Pelaw, which he failed to report.

Twenty-year-old Drinkwater, of Fourth Avenue, Chester-le-Street, admitted four charges put to him when the case first went before magistrates, in Consett, last month.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, in which more than £5,000-worth of damage was caused to the vehicle taken, failing to report an accident, plus driving other than in accordance with the licence and without insurance.

Due to the seriousness of the charges and the level of damage involved the magistrates sent the case for sentence to the crown court.

But today’s (Tuesday July 21) sentencing hearing was unable to proceed as Drinkwater was unrepresented, due to delays in the granting of legal aid.

The hearing was told steps are now in place for the approval of legal aid and, therefore, Judge Simon Hickey agreed to adjourn the sentencing of Drinkwater for three weeks.

He was bailed to return for sentence on Tuesday August 11.