By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:45, Wednesday, 05 September 2012

A Cumbrian teenager crashed his car into another, causing both to be written off, just three weeks after passing his test.

Kevin O’Keefe, 18, of Prescott Road, Longsowerby, Carlisle, was on his way to the city’s Iceland shop when he crashed round a bend into another car, sending it spinning through 180 degrees.

Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard how O’Keefe was driving his Vauxhall Astra along Castle Way towards West Tower Street when he collided with a Suzuki Swift, being driven by a woman.

The force of the crash sent her car spinning but O’Keefe, who had some friends in the car, didn’t stop.

He was on his way to Iceland, on Lowther Street, magistrates heard.

Neil Cheeseborough, defence solicitor, said O’Keefe had passed his driving test just weeks before the crash and already had three points for speeding.

“One school of thought is passing the test is just the first stage of learning to drive,” he said.

He said O’Keefe was “naive” in leaving the scene and had gone back later but found police officers there and ‘didn’t know what to do’.

Mr Cheeseborough said O’Keefe rang his mother to ask her advice and he then contacted the police.

O’Keefe didn’t think he was speeding, he said, and the effect of the crash had been serious on him.

He cared for his elderly grandfather by driving him around to do shopping, he added.

O’Keefe, who admitted driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident, already had three points on his licence for speeding.

His car was written off.

Because he is a new driver, he is expecting to have his licence revoked by Swansea, the solicitor said.

The court heard how, if it had not been for the other driver taking avoiding action, it could have been a head on crash.

O’Keefe was fined £100 for the driving offence, £150 for failing to stop after an accident and ordered to pay £100 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

He was given eight points on his licence.

O’Keefe, who had originally denied both offences at an earlier court hearing, was accompanied to court by his mother in court.

First published at 11:31, Wednesday, 05 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk