Ill-conceived prank leads to driving ban for Calne teen

A spur of the moment decision to play a joke on a friend, has lead to a court appearance for a Calne teenager.

Curtis Anderson, 18, of Curzon Street appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent.

The charges relate to an opportunistic prank outside the Wheatsheaf pub back in February this year. Anderson was outside the pub with friends when another friend parked his Ford Fiesta opposite the group and came across to join them, leaving a passenger in the front seat.

The court heard that Anderson saw the keys had been left in the ignition of the Fiesta and on impulse, crossed the road, jumped in and took the car down the road, around the roundabout and returned. 

Anderson had been disqualified from driving in December for careless driving and failing to stop after an accident. However, his solicitor told the court that Anderson had 'forgotten his thinking skills' and hadn't thought this through when he decided to play the prank - 'it didn't occur to him' that this would be considered to be driving whilst disqualified. 

Adding: "Without thinking things through, he decided to wind the complainant up, there was no intention to actually go anywhere.

"He has since realised his foolishness, he is remorseful and has apologised to complainant - it’s a case of young man acting out his age he has learned a lot from this he has a good head on his shoulders."

Anderson was banned from driving for an additional 12 months, he must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 18 months, attend 10 rehabilitation days and pay £85 court costs and £114 to fund victim services.