Crash student banned after police chase

A STUDENT smashed his dad’s car into a wall while he was being chased by police on icy roads.

Josh Howes, who has a provisional driving licence, caused £1700 worth of damage to the uninsured car and demolished a six-metre stretch of stone dyke.

He then ran from the scene of the accident to avoid being arrested, Livingston Sheriff Court heard, but police caught up with him the following day and he was cautioned and charged.

Howes, 17, of Bathgate, West Lothian, yesterday pleaded guilty to four road traffic offences.

Sheriff Martin Edington fined Howes £435 and banned him from driving for four months.

He said: “I appreciate you’re in serious trouble with your family. I’m imposing lower fines than I might otherwise have felt appropriate given your financial position.”

After reading a letter from the accused, the sheriff added: “You say in this letter that you’ll never appear in court again. I certainly hope that’s true because if you do you’ll be in very serious trouble indeed.”