A TEENAGER who ended up in court after helping to take her mother's car without permission at a party has been given a conditional discharge.

Darlington Youth Court heard that during a party at her parents' house, the 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took the keys to her mother's car and gave them to another person, before they both went for a drive in the car.

Police stopped the car and the teenager was arrested. The court heard she had been drinking and had little recollection of events between getting into the car and being stopped by the police.

Although she was not driving the car, the court heard, the teenager pleaded guilty to taking the car without the owner's consent on the basis she took the keys and was a passenger.

The court heard she was already subject to a supervision order for an offence earlier this year.

Steven Andrews, in mitigation, said that his client was doing well on her order and was expecting a baby in May.

He said that she was now living with her boyfriend and had the full support of her parents.

Mr Andrews said: "This is a young girl in drink at a party. A request was made to her to hand the keys over. Foolishly she hands them over, foolishly she accepts a lift in the car."

She was sentenced to a nine-month conditional discharge.