A teenager who took and drove someone else’s car without their consent has been banned from holding a licence for a year and fined £400.
Brandon Phillips, 18, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week for sentencing having previously pled guilty to three charges under the Road Traffic Act.
Phillips took a vehicle from his home street – Glebe Street in Saltcoats – on August 4 without either the consent of the owner or lawful authority.
He was then found to be driving on Glencairn Street in Stevenston with 29 micrograms of alcohol within 100 millilitres of breath. The legal drink-drive limit in Scotland is 22 micrograms in 100 millilitres.
Phillips also used a vehicle without there being in force the required policy of insurance.
Defence lawyer Paul Gallagher said: “He’s 18 and accepts he’s made clearly foolish, wrong and immature decisions. He was consuming alcohol. He accepts he took the car. He’s made no attempt to minimise his conduct and he knows the courts will treat this as serious.
“He’s still very young. He’s now in employment and he’s engaging with the Job Centre to get something more formal.
“He’s aware that his license will be endorsed. He is willing to pay a financial penalty. It is going to have a significant effect on him and he’s very young and his license is not going to look good for some time.”
Sheriff Michael Hanlon disqualified Phillips from driving for 12 months and fined him £400. He also ordered that his licence be endorsed.
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