A Dundee schoolboy reacted to disappointing exam results by stealing his mother’s car and crashing it into a van after losing control at a roundabout.
A court was told that the unqualified 16-year-old pupil was depressed because he had not got the results he had expected during his prelims.
He took the family’s Nissan Note car for a joyride to cheer himself up but he ended up crashing into a parked van and leaving his mother with a £1,000 repair bill.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, the teenager was banned from driving for eight months after he admitted a series of offences relating to the incident.
Caused ‘extensive damage’
He admitted taking and driving away the car without consent before driving carelessly and failing to negotiate a roundabout in Dundee on March 5 this year.
The schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also admitted driving without insurance or a licence.
Fiscal depute Carrie-Anne McKenzie told the court that he took the vehicle from outside the family home and was seen driving up and down neighbouring streets.
Solicitor Ross Bennett, defending, said: “He got poor results in his preliminary exams and was depressed and feeling down. That is the extent of it.
“He took his mum’s car. Footage taken from a bus shows the car being driven by the accused going round the roundabout. There was extensive damage to his mum’s car.
“It may well be a blemish on him for his future employment. He has learned his lesson as the damage was quite significant.”
