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| Teen learner wrote off dad's BMW | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A teenager who wrote off his father's £19,000 BMW convertible after taking it without permission has been given a suspended jail sentence. | |
| Alex Brooks' family were on holiday in Spain when he crashed down an embankment after hitting a roundabout in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. | Alex Brooks' family were on holiday in Spain when he crashed down an embankment after hitting a roundabout in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. |
| The 19-year-old learner driver admitted four charges before local magistrates. | The 19-year-old learner driver admitted four charges before local magistrates. |
| His family pleaded to keep him out of jail and the bench said they would give him a chance to put his life in order. | His family pleaded to keep him out of jail and the bench said they would give him a chance to put his life in order. |
| Alex accepts his father's quite understandable anger Stephen Lloyd, defending | Alex accepts his father's quite understandable anger Stephen Lloyd, defending |
| The court heard that at 00.30 GMT on 8 January, police found the abandoned BMW 325 convertible at the bottom of an embankment, just off Berwick roundabout on the A484 in Llanelli. | The court heard that at 00.30 GMT on 8 January, police found the abandoned BMW 325 convertible at the bottom of an embankment, just off Berwick roundabout on the A484 in Llanelli. |
| Following inquiries, they established that the owner was Brooks' father and went to their address. | Following inquiries, they established that the owner was Brooks' father and went to their address. |
| 'Heads on the block' | 'Heads on the block' |
| Brooks admitted to police he had taken the car without permission and while "travelling at speed" hit the roundabout, was unable to brake and went down the embankment. | Brooks admitted to police he had taken the car without permission and while "travelling at speed" hit the roundabout, was unable to brake and went down the embankment. |
| Prosecuting Sian Vaughan said Brooks was already the subject of a curfew order, having breached a previous suspended sentence for another matter. | Prosecuting Sian Vaughan said Brooks was already the subject of a curfew order, having breached a previous suspended sentence for another matter. |
| He had admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, using a vehicle without insurance and failing to stop after an accident. | He had admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, using a vehicle without insurance and failing to stop after an accident. |
| In mitigation, Stephen Lloyd said: "The loser in this case, Alex Brooks' father, is sitting in the back of this court. Alex accepts his father's quite understandable anger. | In mitigation, Stephen Lloyd said: "The loser in this case, Alex Brooks' father, is sitting in the back of this court. Alex accepts his father's quite understandable anger. |
| "The view of his father is that he does not wish his son to go to prison in this case." | "The view of his father is that he does not wish his son to go to prison in this case." |
| The court heard that Brooks had to pay his father £500 towards the cost of the damage from his bank account. | The court heard that Brooks had to pay his father £500 towards the cost of the damage from his bank account. |
| Mr Lloyd said that Brooks' family had made considerable efforts to improve his behaviour. | Mr Lloyd said that Brooks' family had made considerable efforts to improve his behaviour. |
| "The problem is when he goes out with his mates, and drinks too much, often difficulties and stupid behaviour take place." | "The problem is when he goes out with his mates, and drinks too much, often difficulties and stupid behaviour take place." |
| Mr Lloyd said since the crash, Brooks had held down a job and would often work up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. | Mr Lloyd said since the crash, Brooks had held down a job and would often work up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. |
| "They feel immediate custody would put him back with the people they are trying to keep him from." | "They feel immediate custody would put him back with the people they are trying to keep him from." |
| Sentencing Brooks, the chairman of the bench Arwel Davies, told Brooks he was "very, very close to going to prison". | Sentencing Brooks, the chairman of the bench Arwel Davies, told Brooks he was "very, very close to going to prison". |
| He said if it was not for the fact that his father and family had been so supportive, he would have been immediately jailed. | He said if it was not for the fact that his father and family had been so supportive, he would have been immediately jailed. |
| "We, the bench, are putting our heads on the block for you today. | "We, the bench, are putting our heads on the block for you today. |
| "Take this as a chance to put your life in order." | "Take this as a chance to put your life in order." |
| As well as a four month sentence, suspended for 18 months, Brooks will be electronically tagged and will serve an 8pm-6am curfew for three months. | As well as a four month sentence, suspended for 18 months, Brooks will be electronically tagged and will serve an 8pm-6am curfew for three months. |
| He must also carry out 40 hours unpaid work and pay £75 costs. | He must also carry out 40 hours unpaid work and pay £75 costs. |
| It emerged that insurance paid out £15,000 of the £19,000 value of the car. | It emerged that insurance paid out £15,000 of the £19,000 value of the car. |