A TEENAGE joyrider stole and crashed a Porsche belonging to a North-East footballer – before cheekily requesting a taxi.

The youth broke into the Harrogate home of Middlesbrough star Robert Huth stealing the car keys before roaring off.

He crashed the luxury sports car in Penny Pot Lane, next to the Highmoor Farm Caravan Park, in Harrogate, before walking a few hundred yards up the road to the home of the park’s owners, Peter and Maureen Kershaw.

Mr Kershaw, 71, said: “He knocked on the door and asked if he could call for a taxi, as he’d crashed his car down the road.

“He can’t have been more than 17 or 18 – my wife didn’t think he was even old enough to drive.

“He said he’d get picked up further down the road, so we called him a taxi and I gave him a lift down.”

Two years ago Mr and Mrs Kershaw lost their own teenage grandson, Ashley Holland, in a car crash.

Mr Kershaw said Tuesday’s incident brought back terrible memories.

“I told that boy he was lucky to be alive,” he said.

“He must have been going at a hell of a pace.

“He didn’t seem at all bothered and was perfectly calm.

“I dropped him off and he thanked me.”

Mr Kershaw said it was only later that day when he realised the youth’s story did not add up.

“He told us he’d already phoned the police to report the crash, but if that was the case he would not have needed to ask us to ring for a taxi. That’s when I rang the police.”

Inspector Mike Woodhall of Harrogate Police said: “I hope we are hot on the heels of the thief.”

German international Huth was on holiday when he became the latest footballer to fall victim to thieves.

In February, Boro team-mate Gary O’Neil – who also lives in the Harrogate area – had his £150,000 Ferrari stolen after leaving his keys in the ignition at a petrol station.