A YOUNG man who smashed his mother’s Mercedes into a tree in a failed attempt to kill himself has narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Callum Crang took the car and his mother’s mobile phone when he became upset about his grandfather’s serious illness on Boxing Day night last year.

The 24-year-old deliberately crashed the car before handing himself into police, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Ellen Wright, prosecuting, said Crang also took his stepfather’s shoes when he left their Darlington home after they had gone to bed.

They were woken up when police knocked on their door saying their Mercedes had been involved in an accident, the court heard.

Miss Wright said: “It was at this point she realised she couldn’t find her mobile phone, she realised that her vehicle was no longer on the driveway. Her partner came downstairs and realised that his shoes were missing and the defendant’s shoes were next to the front door.

“Police told her that her vehicle had been involved in a collision and sustained damage.”

During police interview, Crang told officers that he had attempted to take his own life.

In a victim impact statement, his mother said: “Over all Callum has broken my trust. His actions have left me in a state, he has ruined everything.

“He has taken my phone, knows fine well that his grandad, my father, is seriously ill and has been told this is life threatening and he may not have long left but now I can no longer find anything out.

“My car is my only way of travel, I use it to support his child, the family and allows me to pay the bills. I cannot deal with this and I maybe out of a job due to his actions.

“He is selfish and only cares about himself and that is it.”

Crang, of Geneva Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to two offences of theft from a dwelling, aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching a suspended sentence imposed on him last August for an offence of burglary.

Crang then breached the court order two weeks later when he threatened and abused police officers trying to arrest him for being drunk and disorderly.

In December, he was given a conditional discharge after telling the officers - ‘if you touch me, I will **** you up’.

Kelleigh Lodge, in mitigation, said her client reacted badly to learning about his grandfather’s ill health.

She added: “He was feeling very suicidal at that point and unfortunately, he very foolishly decided to take his mother’s car and the offences were committed.”

Recorder Richard Thyne imposed an 18-month community order and ten additional rehabilitation activity days to continue his work with the probation service.

“This offence has had a huge impact on her, you have broken her trust after taking her car,” he added. “You may have been upset that your grandfather was ill but of course that was her father, who was seriously ill and she needed to have transport at that time.”

He added: “It’s not surprising she describes you as selfish; only thinking of yourself rather than others.”

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