A TEENAGER who crashed his mother's car after taking it without permission when he stormed out of her home following an argument has been given a suspended sentence.
Kieron Morrison, who doesn't have a driving licence, smashed his mother's Nissan Juke into a Fiat 500 after he sped through a red light in Darlington.
The 19-year-old initially stopped following the crash at traffic lights on McMullen Road and Tornado Way before driving off and later abandoning the car at his sister's home.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court how the teenager caused more than £6,000 worth of damage to the cars as a result of the crash on March 31.
He said: "As they approached a crossroads the lights were on green and they intended to travel on and went across the junction, however, at the same time the defendant was travelling from the other side and contravened the red light and as a consequence collided with the Fiat 500."
The impact forced the Fiat into a bollard and other drivers stopped to get the people out of the damaged car.
Mr Ahmad said Morrison pulled over, shouted 'Mate, my light was on green' before getting back in the car and driving off at speed.
The court heard how the occupants of the Fiat suffered minor injuries and the driver had to take a week off work.
The prosecutor said Morrison later abandoned the car and posted the keys through his sister's letterbox.
Morrison, of Moulton Way, Darlington, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, causing criminal damage, driving without a licence and insurance, failing to stop after an accident and dangerous driving.
Kelleigh Lodge, in mitigation, told the court that Morrison's behaviour was out of character and he had already paid for the repairs to his mother's car.
She said: "It would appear to be out of character for Mr Morrison, certainly a one-off, never to be repeated.
"He genuinely regrets his actions, not just because of the impact on his mother, in relation to his mother's car being taken without consent and causing damage to it, but also the collision with the other vehicle and the occupants suffered whiplash injuries as a result."
Recorder Paul Reid sentenced Morrison to six months, suspended for 18 months for 'this appalling piece of driving'.
"You don't have a driving licence, you stole your mother's car, on this occasion after an argument, apparently about an allegation you had consumed illegal drugs, which you denied vociferously," he said.
"It is very fortunate indeed that noone was more seriously injured because collisions like this can cause very serious injuries and death.
"You exasperated the situation by getting back into the car and driving it away, dumping the car and hiding at a friend's home to evade capture."
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