A MAN crashed his partner’s car after an argument between the pair caused him to drive off in it, a court has heard.
Alan Cornes, of Severn Street, took the vehicle on April 4, when he had been at a Worcester pub with Amy Phillips, but his mood was said to change after they consumed six pints of lager.
Worcester Magistrates Court heard how the 36-year-old tried to ‘pick a fight’ with her and said he wanted to go home, before he took the keys to the Volkswagen Golf and drove off.
Despite demands for him to return the vehicle, Corns continued to drive off and reversed into a grey Audi at a garage on the A38. He then drove back to the pub where Miss Phillips noticed the damage, the court also heard.
The pair continued to argue when they returned home and Corns, who is on the insurance policy of the car, packed a bag and scraped his phone charger along the side of the Golf on his way out.
He pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink, failing to stop after a road accident, failing to report a road accident, criminal damage to a property under the value of £5,000 and aggravated vehicle taking and property damage under £5,000.
Corns was handed a 12-month community order, with supervision, 120 hours of unpaid work and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Corns, representing himself, said: “I take full responsibility for my actions.
“I had a choice that day to do what I did and unfortunately I took the wrong choice.”
District Judge Nigel Cadbury added: “I have to consider all the offences and the overall effect these offences create. It’s a combination of these offences that make it as serious as it is.”
Corns was also ordered to pay £1,183 in compensation, £85 court costs and a victim surcharge of £60.
