A MAN put the safety of his fiancee at risk when he grabbed the wheel of her car, forcing it off the road during an argument.

Timothy Moss, 31, told his partner that he was "going to do something stupid" before causing the car to veer off St Cuthbert's Way, in Darlington, and into railings on the evening of March 26.

Chairman of Darlington magistrates, Nicholas Edgar, condemned Moss' behaviour saying it was "totally and utterly reckless".

"There could have been other road users or pedestrians, not to mention the damage you could have done to your fiancee who was in the car with you, " said Mr Edgar.

"It was a very stupid thing to do."

David Maddison, prosecuting, told the court that Moss lost his temper after an argument over money.

"They had gone into town to watch a football match. The defendant had been drinking, but his partner had not, " he said.

"When she decided she wanted to go home at around 8.30pm, he decided he wanted to stay out.

"The defendant did not have his bank card with him and asked for a loan from his partner, but she refused.

"After causing the car to veer off the road and hit the railings, he left the scene, leaving his partner very upset. He returned after speaking with a police officer and was arrested."

Jane Scott, mitigating for Moss, who had pleaded guilty to causing a danger to road users, said: "It is a desperate shame that he finds himself before the courts for this very serious offence.

"He tells me that they had never had an argument quite like this before.

"The lady he was with is no longer his girlfriend, she is now his wife. They married on May 4.

"What occurred was totally out of character. It was not a high-speed crash and his previous good character has been lost today."

Moss, of Beaconsfield Street, Darlington, was fined £165 and ordered to pay £100 costs.