A learner driver took and wrote off his father’s car after realising he had left his bank card at his cousin's house.

Burnley Magistrates' Court heard how at about 11pm on the evening of Saturday, February 5, while his parents were asleep, Kai Larkin, 23, took his father's convertible BMW 4-series after realising he had left his bank card at his cousin’s house.

At about 11.45pm, after Larkin had picked up a passenger, he crashed the car into a fence and bush at a home in Greenhead Lane, Fence.

Larkin only held a provisional licence, meaning he has to be accompanied by an experienced motorist while behind the wheel, was not insured to drive his father's vehicle, and had taken the car without permission.

Prosecuting, Suzanne Ludlow said: “Unfortunately for Mr Larkin, he has collided into the side instead of into the building which would have been more serious.

“Mr Larkin panicked. He crashed his father’s vehicle. He has gone home and told his father what happened.”

Larkin went to the police station to hand himself in and helped officers with their investigation.

The car, which was worth around £36,000, was written off however due to his job, Larkin's father was able to source another car.

In mitigation, Waseem Chowdhary said that Larkin, of Ebor Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and accepted full responsibility for what he had done.

Mr Chowdhary said: “He is regretful and remorseful for his actions.

“He now bears the understanding of the serious consequences. What he did was foolish.”

Larkin has also spoken with the family which lives at the home he crashed the car into the fence of, and organised repayments to them to repair the damage.

Magistrates sentenced Larkin, who pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and property damage, driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance, to a 12-month community order.

He must undertake 120 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge of £95 and £85 in court costs.

He has also been disqualified from driving for 12 months when he must reapply for his provisional licence.