A MAN crashed a friend's sports car after taking it without concent when they had been out drinking together, a court heard yesterday.

Simon Michael Wild, 24, of Blackton Close, Newton Aycliffe, took the keys to a friend's MG TF car on October 7 when his friend fell asleep.

He then drove off in the vehicle and bumped into a Rover car parked in nearby Greenlea Garth, Darlington, then reversed into the front of the car owner's house.

Magistrates, sitting at Newton Aycliffe, yesterday heard that Wild had been convicted of taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, at a hearing in April.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community rehabilitation order, ordered to pay £195 compensation to the owner of the Rover, £200 to the owner of the MG and legal costs of £100.

Wild was also banned from driving for three years for driving after drinking excess alcohol, which he admitted.

A reading of his blood revealed 108mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, the limit is 80mg.

He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, for which he received a concurrent 12-month disqualification, and without insurance, for which his licence was endorsed with six points.