An unlicensed driver who took a friend’s car without permission and smashed it into a camper van within minutes also had no insurance.

To compound matters, Douglas magistrates heard 21-year-old Joshua Mason then panicked and drove off from the scene of the accident, which was reported to police soon after 5pm on October 30.

James Robinson, for the prosecution, told the court Mason had stopped overnight with a friend in the north of the island. While the friend was asleep, Mason had decided to drive himself to the local shop, taking the car without asking.

Returning, he had overtaken a vehicle on Jurby Road which, he said, had turned right into him as he did so.

’He did not stop as he did not have a driving licence and nor did he report it,’ Mr Robinson said.

The shop had also turned out to be closed, he added.

After a call from the other driver reporting a hit-and-run accident, police searched for the car, which was described by the other driver as a small hatchback. They discovered a grey Renault Five with extensive accident damage, parked in an outbuilding.

Mason, of Crellin’s Grove, Andreas, admitted taking the car without permission, driving it with neither insurance nor a licence, failing to stop after an accident or to report it and driving carelessly. All the offences were committed on October 30.

Mr Robinson acknowledged there had been early admissions of guilt by the defendant. He said the other party had had to claim £800 on his insurance to repair the damage and had to pay a £200 excess.

’He accepts that if the owner had known, he would not have let him take the car,’ he said.

Defending Mason, David Clegg described it as a ’thoughtless act and a stupid mistake’.

’However, it was not a carefully planned crime. It was one mistake compounded by further stupid decisions. He did not plan to go joy riding.

’He says had he been lawful to drive, his friend would not have minded. As it was, he should not have taken the vehicle and should not have driven and it was compounded by the accident. Then he did not behave responsibly by fleeing the scene; he accepts he should have stopped.

’He is currently trying to find work and he accepts he has no-one to blame but himself,’ he said.

Magistrates’ chairman Anita Ardern gave him a 12-month probation order and his driving licence, when he has one, will be endorsed with six points. He gets a six month driving ban for failing to stop at the scene of the accident.

He is to pay £600 compensation but no order for costs was made.