Man who took his nephew's car and crashed it had been banned from driving since 1999

A man who took his nephew's car and crashed it had been disqualified from driving since 1999, a court heard.

Leon Taylor drove off in his relative's Peugeot 206 after taking the keys from the kitchen drawer - despite being banned from the roads 20 years ago.

South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court heard the 54-year-old then crashed into a parked car in Amble , Northumberland , and left the scene without stopping.

Prosecutor James Long said Taylor, of Market Place, Morpeth , attended his nephew's property on March 19 this year.

He told the court: "The defendant took the keys within the house and drove off in the car without the owner's consent.

"He's then been involved in a collision on Acklington Road in Amble."

Magistrates heard that Taylor crashed into an Audi that was "parked correctly at the side of the road".

Mr Long said: "The defendant collided with that for no apparent reason.

Bedlington Magistrates court (Newcastle Chronicle)

"The matter was reported to the police in due course."

The court heard Taylor "made full admissions" to police, admitting he took the car after getting the key from the kitchen drawer.

He told officers he had gone out to get some money and collided with a parked car before driving away from the scene.

Mr Long said Taylor had been disqualified from driving in October 1999 by Alnwick Magistrates' Court "for a specific period of time until he passed an extended driving test".

"He has never done so, so has no driving licence, and by extension has no insurance," he said.

Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance, driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after a road accident.

Peter Docherty, defending, said Taylor's nephew "forgave him quite quickly" after the incident.

He also said the original offence that led to the driving ban was dealt with by way of a conditional discharge.

Taylor was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a 10-day specified activity requirement. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, an £85 surcharge and court costs of £40.