Drunk joyrider hit with ban after taking taxi for a spin in car park

Published 11 Aug 2010 11:06

A PRANKSTER who took a taxi for a joyride round a car park after a drunken night out has been banned from the roads for two years.

Andrew Jones and four of his friends tried to get into a four-seater cab after a night out in Alloa.

But when the driver refused to put one of his mates in the boot Jones leapt into the driver's seat and took the car for a spin round the Candleriggs car park.

After crashing into a parked car he ran off and was chased on foot through the town centre by two taxi drivers before eventually being caught by police.

On Thursday, Jones appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court and admitted taking the taxi without permission, driving dangerously, without insurance and whilst almost three times the legal drink-drive limit on 21 May.

The 27-year-old, of Stirling Road, Tullibody was sentenced to 150 hours community service and disqualified from driving for two years with the requirement that he re-sit his test.

Fiscal depute Gillian Taylor told the court Jones and four friends approached the taxi parked in Candleriggs car park at 1.04am.

She went on, "The accused and other persons attempted to enter the taxi. The driver was not happy that five males were trying to enter the vehicle and informed them that she would only take four.

"An argument ensued in which the accused asked if one of the males could be carried in the boot. When the passengers refused to get out of the car the driver got out to get help staying in the vicinity of the vehicle - leaving the keys in the ignition.

"While she shouted to other taxi drivers to help her she observed the accused slip over from the passenger seat to the driver's side.

"The taxi driver suspected that the accused was trying to steal the car and attempted to pull him out of the vehicle. The accused pressed his foot on the accelerator, the car wheel spun and the driver's door slammed shut as the car drove off."

Ms Taylor said the car doors were still open as the car drove around the car park however the doors closed when Jones struck another vehicle.

Defending, Gordon McIntyre said Jones claimed the doors were closed when he took off in the car and that one flew open during the drive.

He said, "It's a prank carried out by Mr Jones on impulse but he acknowledges that it was a prank that backfired spectacularly. He does not know why he did it.

"It was an impulsive act caused by him taking too much alcohol."

Sheriff David Mackie told Jones, "This may have been an impulsive act but it caused distress and alarm to a taxi driver who was going about her normal nightly business and she should never have been put through that.

"Furthermore it was a situation that could have been much more dangerous."

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