Man crashes friend's BMW

After Jamie Stacey had hosted a social event, victim Liam Smith decided to leave his car at Stacey's house, instead walking around the corner to his girlfriend's home intending to pick the vehicle up the next day.

But Stacey, who was on a suspended sentence imposed last April, left his friend £300 put of pocket after he was said to have used the car for a personal journey and taken a bend too fast, losing control of the car when driving back.

Stacey kept his freedom after admitting to aggravated vehicle-taking, to not having insurance for the incident which took place on Liverpool Road in Burnley last August 25th, and to breaching the suspended term at the town's magistrates court.

The 20-year-old, of Rosegrove Lane in Burnley, was given a 12-month community order with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement as well as being banned for a year and must pay £85 costs and £200 compensation.

Mrs Alex Mann, prosecuting, told the court the victim had been at the defendant's house, that all were having a few drinks, and that he decided to leave his car there.

She continued: "The friend says he stands to lose at least £500 due to his insurance excess. And he would lose his no claims bonus. We don't know if the defendant was over the limit. He took a bend a bit too fast," she said.

Mr Ben Leech, defending, said the car keys had been left at Stacey's house and the defendant's mother, who suffers from arthritis, called him, saying she had fallen. She couldn't reach her partner and asked Stacey to go round.

The solicitor continued: "It was about a mile or so. He accepts and concedes he should have walked that distance. It was raining and he made the foolish decision to drive his friend's car a short distance."

Mr Leech said a car pulled out in front of the defendant, causing him to swerve and collide with the parked vehicle. He waited and then went off home in panic.

The solicitor added: "I think his primary concern was how he was going to explain this to his friend. The next morning he walked into the police station and was interviewed about these matters, which he fully admitted."