A learner driver who took his grandmother’s car for a spin without her permission has been banned from driving for four years.
Michael Alexander Wood, 24, of Caledonia Road, Brechin, was also placed on a community payback order for 18 months with supervision and must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Sheriff Gregor Murray at Arbroath told Wood he had avoided being sent to jail by the skin of his teeth.
Wood became stranded two miles from Edzell after taking the Peugeot 207 from Bloomfield Crescent in Arbroath.
Wood had admitted that, on February 1 or 2, he took and drove the car without the owner’s consent. He also admitted that, as the holder of a provisional licence, he drove without a full licence holder supervising him and without insurance.
The car was registered to his grandmother and she and her husband are the only people insured to drive it.
Wood was staying with them and he entered the car and made his way to Edzell after they had gone to bed.
He got into difficulties and the vehicle was damaged. Wood then phoned a friend who took him back to her home.
At 7am the next day, his grandmother woke and noticed the vehicle was not there.
She checked Wood’s bedroom and saw it had not been slept in but his possessions were still there.
She also noticed the front door was unlocked. She contacted the police to report the matter.
Defence agent Lynsey McLeod said: “He was a week away from sitting his test and went out in the middle of the night to get more practice.
“His tyre burst and he lost control. His grandmother woke up the next day and phoned the police. He realises he made a very big mistake.”
Sheriff Murray said it was Wood’s third such driving conviction.
“You have avoided prison by the skin of your teeth,” he said.