AN UNLICENSED and uninsured driver caused almost £14,000-worth of damage during the 0.2 miles he spent behind the wheel of a friend’s car, a court heard.

Ryan Drinkwater had been drinking with his girlfriend at his friend’s house, in South Pelaw, Chester-le-Street, in the early hours of May 2, this year.

Durham Crown Court was told that after his girlfriend left, following a row, and the householder went to bed, Drinkwater took the keys to his friend’s BMW 320d without permission at about 3.50am.

Having driven it out of a back street onto Pelton Lane, he hit a BMW 116 and Citroen C5, parked in nearby Hilda Terrace.

Lewis Kerr, prosecuting, said both BMWs and the Citroen were badly damaged, with a combined estimated repair bill of £13,904. Two were subsequently declared as insurance write-offs.

The Citroen owner was awoken by the noise from the smash and looked out of a window to see Drinkwater running off.

It later emerged he sent his girlfriend a message, telling her: “I have done something very bad.”

Mr Kerr said as Drinkwater was not arrested until the following day he was not breathalysed.

“He had been drinking that night, but there’s no evidence as to the amount of alcohol in his system at the time of the crashes.”

Mr Kerr added that no-one witnessed the collisions, although the total distance driven by the defendant was only 0.2 miles.

The 20-year-old of Fourth Avenue, Chester-le-Street, was, therefore, charged with aggravated vehicle taking, failing to report an accident, driving other than in accordance with the licence and without insurance.

He admitted all four charges at the first hearing at the magistrates’ court and the case was committed for sentence to the crown court.

Michael Cahill, for Drinkwater, told the court: “What has shone through from the start was his deep remorse.

“He realises what he did was extremely stupid.

“He’s apologised to his friend and wants to also express his sincere apologies to both the other car owners.”

Mr Cahill added that Drinkwater has no previous convictions, is in work and his first child is due to be born in October.

Passing a one-year community order, to include a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150-hours’ unpaid work, Judge Christopher Prince told Drinkwater: “You’re fortunate you weren’t charged with dangerous driving because people convicted of dangerous driving in this court are nearly always sent to custody.”

Drinkwater was also ordered to pay costs totalling £580 and was banned from driving for two years.