Blackburn teenagers accused of taking car turn on each other in court (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn teenagers accused of taking car turn on each other in court

9:00am Monday 3rd December 2012 in Blackburn

TWO teenagers involved in taking a car belonging to one of their mums turned on each other when the case came to court.

Blackburn magistrates heard that during the incident the stolen car collided with two parked vehicles causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

But while one claimed he had not driven the car the other said they had both been behind the wheel.

Liam Sears, 18, of Addison Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to aggravated taking of the car and was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Samuel Luke Jones, 18, of Higher Bank Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in the car which belonged to his mother. He was ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work and pay £100 compensation to the owners of the two damaged cars and £85 costs.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said the prosecution case was that Sears was seen driving the car.

“There is no evidence that Jones was driving but the keys were taken from his house,” said Mr Ainge, “Either he took the keys or he allowed Sears to take them. What is not in dispute is that in the course of the car being away from Mrs Jones it was involved in two collisions.”

Imran Hussain, defending Sears, said he accepted his behaviour had been unacceptable.

Mr Hussain said his client claimed the keys were taken by Jones and that the ‘folly’ was conceived by both of them.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said his client was charged with allowing himself to be carried in the vehicle and should be dealt with on that basis.

He said Jones had worked through the Summer holidays and saved £1,000 which he had handed over to his mother.

“The court can be confident he has learned from this experience,” said Mr Church-Taylor.