An Exeter teenager has been slapped with a driving ban, and fined, after taking his dad’s BMW to the shops without a licence and crashing it in Cranbrook.
A 19-year-old man has appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ court after crashing his dad’s BMW into a parked car and driving off, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Brooklyn Richards, of Exe Street, Exeter, pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and driving without insurance on 28 March this year.
The court heard Richards has never passed a driving test. He has no previous convictions.
Just after 9am in Cranbrook, a witness reported seeing a silver BMW drive through a junction, followed by a loud bang.
She saw that the car had hit a parked vehicle, creasing the bonnet and causing damage to the front, and noted the driver’s clothing and age.
After seeing the vehicle park up, she called police who attended an address on Tillhouse Road, Cranbrook, where the vehicle was registered.
The defendant was at home with his father, who told police his son did not have permission to drive the car. He was arrested and the witness confirmed Richards’ identity to officers.
The defendant, representing himself, said he took the car to go to the shops.
When District Judge Smith asked him why he drove without a licence, he bluntly replied “I don’t know”.
“You clearly could have taken other means to go to the shops,” the judge said. “It was not urgent.”
Richards was fined £150 and must pay a £60 victim surcharge and costs of £85. He was banned from driving for six months.
