Kilmarnock man took friend's car then smashed it into a fence

Jul 3 2009

FINES totalling £345 have been imposed on a man who ‘borrowed’ his friend’s car and crashed it into a fence.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Christopher Whiteside, 23, of Marchdyke Crescent, Kilmarnock, admitted driving away a vehicle without permission, driving without a licence or insurance, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report it.

The offences were committed in Marchdyke Crescent in April.

Tony McIlvanney, prosecuting, said that residents in the street were awakened around 4am by a loud bang outside their home.

“They looked outside and saw that a motor vehicle had collided with their fence,” he said.

The car sped off, but returned a short time later, when the driver got out and looked at the fence before driving off again.

The witnesses called the police the following morning after seeing what appeared to be the same car further down the street.

Officers traced the vehicle’s registered keeper who told them that he hadn’t given the accused permission to drive it.

When Whiteside was interviewed, he told police: “I took my mate’s car and bumped into the fence. It was stupid.”

Charged with the offences, he replied: “I’m sorry.”

Whiteside, who was not represented by a lawyer, told the court: “It was just something stupid. I don’t know what got into my head at the time.

“I instantly regretted it and I still do.”

Sheriff RAF Clark noted that Whiteside was a first offender and had pleaded guilty at his first opportunity.

His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.