A MAN damaged three cars after taking his friend’s van without consent, a court heard.

Stephen Richardson, of Falmer Road, Darlington, took his friend’s Ford Transit van after going round to his house for a chat on the evening of December 30 last year.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard the 21-year-old damaged three cars – including a vehicle owned by a children’s hospice – as he drove the van around Darlington.

Prosecutor Alan Davison said Richardson’s friend did not initially realise the van had gone, and did not report the van as stolen but heard the keys drop through his letterbox the following day.

Richardson, who represented himself in court, admitting taking the van and failing to stop following the accidents.

“I was just stupid,” he said.

He admitted a number of charges, including aggravated vehicle taking, driving a motor vehicle without the correct licence, using a motor vehicle without third party insurance, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident.

Magistrates adjourned the case until Thursday, July 23 to allow the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report on Richardson.

He was granted unconditional bail ahead of the hearing, and was given an interim driving ban.