Crash driver 'succumbed to temptation' (From Craven Herald)

Crash driver 'succumbed to temptation'

2:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

Despite having served a prison sentence for driving without insurance, Nathan Holmes took his mum’s car and crashed into a drystone wall, Skipton magistrates were told.

The 23-year-old, who later this month is to start training as a soldier, was uninsured and did not have a full licence when he used her car to pick up a friend in Skipton on August 12.

When the girl failed to turn up, he set off back to his home in Ellers Road, Sutton-in-Craven, but collided with the wall in Woodside Lane, Cononley .

Next morning he confessed to what he had done to his mother and immediately telephoned the police and was arrested.

The bench was told that Holmes, who pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and a licence, had previously served a prison sentence for driving without insurance and had past convictions including driving without due care.

Defence solicitor John Mewies said Holmes must be given credit for alerting the police to what had happened because it was unlikely he would have been found out if he had not.

He had succumbed to temptation to take the car when he got a telephone call at his home from the girl asking for a lift.

“He should have asked himself ‘why put myself in jeopardy?’ but he didn’t,” said Mr Mewies.

In a bid to put his life in order, he had enlisted in the armed forces and was due to start his training later this month.

Presiding magistrate Howard Cutler told Holmes he had an appalling record. “I hope the army will help to straighten you out,” he said.

He banned him from driving for six months and imposed a £300 fine, with £85 costs and a £15 victims surcharge.