A MAN with no driving licence took his dad’s car, crashed it into 10 other vehicles then ran away, a court was told.

Jamie Arthur, aged 31, of Sinclair Court, Evesham, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without insurance at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The court heard how Arthur took his dad’s Ford Mondeo while he was asleep upstairs at his house in the town’s Northwick Road at around 4pm on Sunday, October 4.

Arthur said he needed the car to pick up his girlfriend from the centre of town but on his way back home, while driving along King’s Road, a car pulled out in front of him out of Glencoe Road and there was a crash.

Matt Dodson, prosecuting, said Arthur hit a row of cars, including a Peugeot 206, a Mercedes van, a Peugeot 407 and a Vauxhall Corsa before he tried to reverse, hitting four more cars and becoming ‘embedded’ in a fifth.

Mr Dodson said: “A lady pulled out in front of him and he swerved to miss her. He got out of the car to see if she was alright.

"He panicked at this stage and put the car in reverse. He made contact with other vehicles, scratching the side of them. He stopped, got out and ran away.

"He said he panicked because he knew he took the vehicle without his father’s consent and didn’t have a full driving licence or insurance. He said he wasn’t thinking straight and it was in the heat of the moment.”

The court heard how Arthur was only a provisional driving licence holder and had already been disqualified for six months in January last year.

Mark Sheward, defending, said he had taken his dad’s car because his girlfriend had called him, telling him she had been assaulted.

He added: “His father was asleep upstairs and he didn’t want to wake him up and ask if he could borrow the car. It’s fair to say that the vehicle pulled out in front of him.

"His relationship with his parents has fallen foul of his conduct. He has had to move out. His father isn’t best pleased with him.”

The case was adjourned until Thursday, January 7. He was granted bail on condition he co-operates with the probation service in the preparation of an all-options pre-sentence report.

• Your Worcester News was the only member of the media to attend this hearing.