A 14-year-old boy has admitted to driving offenses after crashing a car into a house in Derby.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, at approximately 2:30 am GMT, on Grampian Way in Sinfin. The police had just started chasing the vehicle after it was taken from a nearby property when the accident happened.
During a hearing at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, it was revealed that the crash caused such significant damage that two semi-detached houses would need to be demolished.
The teenage driver pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a license, and driving without insurance.
The court heard that the boy had been seen driving recklessly in the area, performing several loops and driving at speeds well above the legal limit of 30mph.
The defendant was arrested at the scene of the crash and suffered minor injuries. The prosecutor, Emma Gilberthorpe, stated that structural engineers had assessed the damage caused by the collision and concluded that the two affected houses would need to be demolished.
According to Gilberthorpe, the boy panicked when he saw the police and lost control of the car by taking his foot off the accelerator and his hands off the steering wheel. He expressed remorse and apologized for his actions.
In court, Justin Ablott, the defendant’s defense lawyer, acknowledged the gravity of the boy’s actions, describing them as significant and serious. He also stated that the boy was aware that he had behaved dreadfully over the weekend.
Residents living in the area have reported that the crash has had a significant impact on the community. Benjamin Shah, a Grampian Way resident, commented on the traffic congestion caused by the incident, which has made it difficult for people to get to work.
He also expressed his sympathy for the affected family and noted that the accident had a profound effect on the close-knit community.
Fortunately, no one in the house was injured during the incident. District Judge Andrew Meachin adjourned the case and set a sentencing date for March 31st.
