Boy caught on 70mph joyride in parents’ van to ‘wash cars for a year’
The court announced that a 13-year-old boy who was caught driving his parents’ Volkswagen caravan at 70 miles per hour will be sentenced to “washing cars for a year” as punishment.
The student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was spotted by shocked motorists behind the wheel of his family’s 2.5-litre minibus on the A35, a busy two-way road in Poole, Dorset, in the middle of the night, without his mother or father knowing.
They called 999 and traffic police quickly located the silver van, which had pulled over safely and legally.
The young teenager was then arrested and handcuffed.
The boy, now 14, went with his family to Poole Magistrates’ Court, where he was given six penalty points, which will prevent him from qualifying for a license for another two years.
The court also ordered his parents to pay £105 in court costs.
The teenager told the court: “I’m really sorry and I won’t do this again.”
His father told the district judge that his son would “wash cars next year” to pay off his debt.
Prosecutor Charles Nightingale said the incident took place at 1.50am on August 23 last year while the boy was on summer holiday.
He said: “Sergeant Chris Brolan was informed by members of the public that there was a teenager driving a VW caravan on the westbound Upton ring road.
“This is a dual carriageway with a national speed limit.
“HE [Sgt Brolan] observed the vehicle; There was nothing remarkable about the drive.
“The vehicle wanted to leave the divided road and moved towards the side road, and then the defendant pulled over to the side of the road without even turning on the blue lights of the officer.
“No suggestions [the boy] “He was nothing but polite and accommodating on the roadside.”
When District Judge Orla Austin asked why he was driving, the boy said he was “not sure” but admitted this wasn’t the first time he’d been in his mother’s van.
The court heard the teenager received two conditional police warnings, one for ‘road traffic matters’, from September last year after the crime was committed.
Judge Austin said: “You’re only 13, what were you doing driving that caravan? You don’t have a proper license or any insurance, you can’t drive because you’re putting everyone else at risk.”
“Actually, even if you don’t have a driver’s license, I have to give points to your driving record. So when you apply for a provisional driver’s license, you will be given six points.
“You’re very young and you don’t want to be in court again, so hopefully this will be the end of it all.
“I gave you the lowest sentence I could that would have the least impact on your future. It is clear that you are well supported by your parents.”
The boy pleaded guilty to the charge of driving without a license and without insurance.
He was also given points and costs, as well as conditional discharge for 12 months.
Young people can apply for a provisional driver’s license, which is valid for driving a moped at the age of 15 years and nine months, and at the age of 16. They can’t legally learn to drive until they turn 17.
The court heard the points would remain on his license for three years, so he would likely be cleared when the young driver was ready to pass his driving test.
