Top News

A teenage boy will be "washing cars for a year" after being caught speeding in the middle of the night in his parents' VW Campervan. The boy, who was 13 at the time of the incident, was caught joyriding on the A35 dual carriageway in Poole, Dorset, in August last year.

Shocked motorists who had seen the boy driving the van called 999, and officers arrested the boy shortly after pulling him over. The boy, now 14, told Poole Magistrates' Court: "I'm really sorry and I won't do it again." He was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and six penalty points, which will come into effect once he turns 16 and is old enough to apply for a provisional licence.

His parents were also fined £105 in court costs.

The boy's father told the district judge his son would be 'washing cars for the next year' to pay off his debt.

Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, said the incident happened at 1.50am on August 23 last year during the boy's school summer holidays.

He said: "Sergeant Chris Brolan was given information by members of the public there was a juvenile driving a VW campervan on the Upton bypass, westbound."

Mr Nightingale added: "It is a national speed limit dual carriageway.

"He [Sgt Brolan] observed the vehicle - there was nothing remarkable about the driving at all.

"The vehicle indicated to leave the dual carriageway and moved into the slip road, the defendant then pulled into the side of the road without the officer even putting the blue lights on.

"There is no suggestion [the boy] was anything other than polite and compliant at the road side."

The boy admitted that the event in question was not the first time he had taken the vehicle, as he told the court that he was "not sure" why he had done it.

Judge Austin said: "You're only 13, what were you doing driving that campervan?

"You haven't got a proper licence or any insurance, you can't drive vehicles because you put everybody else at risk.

"I have to put points on your driving record even though you haven't actually got a licence, so when you apply for a provisional licence there will be six points on it.

"You are very young and you don't want to end up before the court again so I hope this is going to be the end of it.

"I have given you the lowest sentence I can that will have the least impact on your future.

"You are obviously being well supported by your parents."