A TEENAGER who handed himself into police after crashing a rental car he had stolen has been ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work.

Carl Mark Ellis Mackinlay stole the Vauxhall Insignia from outside a home in Eldon on May 16, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were told.

Shortly after 11am the next day he crashed into another car at the traffic lights in Tindale but drove off.

Prosecutor David Wood said Mackinlay, 19, of Hackworth Street, Shildon, went to the police station later that day and handed himself in.

He also told police where they could find the hire car, which was owned by Europcar, in South Church where he had dumped it.

Graham Hunsley mitigating said the theft had been opportunistic.

Mackinlay saw an unlocked VW Golf in Eldon and, while searching through it, found the keys for the Vauxhall, the court heard.

He added that Mackinlay leads a chaotic life but wants to sort himself out with the support of the probation service.

Mackinlay admitted stealing a car and its keys, failing to report an accident, driving without a licence or insurance and breaching a conditional discharge which had been given in April for disorderly behaviour and resisting a police officer.

Magistrates gave him a 12 months community order with supervision and 200 hours unpaid work, put six points on his licence and ordered him to pay a £60 victim surcharge.