Lerwick man admits crashing car he took without consent

A YOUNG man from Lerwick will be sentenced next month after admitting taking a car unlawfully, driving it dangerously around town and crashing it into another vehicle in October last year.

Appearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday morning, Jack Desvaux pleaded guilty to a total of seven charges, also including perverting the course of justice by running away from police officers at the scene of the accident.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court how the 23-year-old took the unsecured car from the Market Street carpark on 12 October, and then drove around town erratically and at excessive speeds.

He crashed the relatively new car into a parked vehicle resulting in the car he was driving leaving the carriageway and overturning.

Desvaux then exited the overturned vehicle and ran away as police were approaching the scene. He was caught nearby shortly afterwards. Both vehicles involved had to be written off.

Because the vehicle Desvaux took was unsecured the owner had been unable to claim insurance on her loss and had to buy herself out of a hire purchase agreement at a cost of more than £11,000, the fiscal told the court.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank asked for a criminal justice social report and restriction of liberty assessment and deferred sentence until 9 April.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan told the court he would speak in mitigation once the reports are available to the court.

Desvaux was disqualified in the interim.