Borrowed car leads to ban (From Keighley News)

Borrowed car leads to ban

4:05pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News By Keighley News reporter

Despite having served a prison sentence for driving without insurance, Nathan Holmes took his mum’s car and crashed into a dry-stone wall, Skipton magistrates were told.

The 23-year-old, who later this month is to start training as a soldier, was uninsured and did not have a full licence when he used her car to pick up a friend in Skipton on August 12.

When the girl failed to turn up, he set off back to his home in Ellers Road, Sutton, but collided with the wall in Woodside Lane, Cononley.

Next morning he confessed to what he had done to his mother, telephoned the police and was arrested.

The bench was told Holmes, who pleaded guilty to driving without insurance or a licence, had previously served a prison sentence for driving without insurance and had past offences including driving without due care.

John Mewies said Holmes must be given credit for alerting the police to what had happened.

He had succumbed to temptation to take the car when he got a telephone call at his home from the girl asking for a lift. “He should have asked himself ‘Why put myself in jeopardy?’ but he didn’t,” said Mr Mewies.

In a bid to put his life in order, he had now enlisted in the armed forces.

Presiding magistrate Howard Cutler told Holmes he had an appalling record. “I hope the army will help to straighten you out – I wish you well at Catterick,” he said.

He banned him from driving for six months and imposed a £300 fine, with £85 costs and a £15 victims surcharge.