A 13-year-old boy from Dorset has been handed penalty points for a future driving licence after taking his family's Volkswagen campervan on a high-speed joyride along a busy dual carriageway in the middle of the night. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was spotted by other motorists driving the 2.5-litre silver van on the A35 in Poole, reaching speeds of up to 70mph.
Court Hearing Reveals Details of the Incident
At Poole Magistrates' Court, the court heard that the incident occurred at 1.50am on 23 August last year. Charles Nightingale, representing the prosecution, stated that Sergeant Chris Brolan received information from members of the public about a juvenile driving a VW campervan on the Upton bypass, westbound. Nightingale noted that the driving was unremarkable, and the defendant pulled over without the officer activating blue lights.
Father's Punishment and Teen's Admission
The boy's father told District Judge Orla Austin that his son would be "washing cars for the next year" to pay off the financial penalties. When questioned by the judge, the boy, now 14, admitted it was not the first time he had taken the vehicle without permission, though he claimed to be "not sure" why he did it. He expressed remorse, telling the court: "I'm really sorry and I won't do it again."
Legal Consequences and Future Implications
The teenager admitted charges of driving with no licence or insurance. Judge Austin imposed six penalty points on his driving record, which will remain for three years. Since the boy is not yet eligible for a provisional licence—teenagers in the UK can apply at 15 years and nine months to learn to drive at 17—the points will apply when he does obtain one. Additionally, he received a 12-month conditional discharge, and his parents were ordered to pay £105 in court costs.
Judge Austin emphasised the risks, stating: "You haven't got a proper licence or any insurance, you can't drive vehicles because you put everybody else at risk." She hoped this would be a lesson to prevent future court appearances. This case highlights ongoing concerns about underage driving and parental responsibility in motoring offences.
