A 15-year-old youth who crashed his neighbour's car appeared at Darlington Youth Court yesterday.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted driving without a licence or insurance.

Ciaran Grogan, prosecuting, said the youth thought a neighbour had said he could collect the Renault Five for him, but he had been referring to the boy's father.

"A neighbour had heard a crashing noise and saw the boy coming out of the car, looking slightly dazed. He had crashed it into a fence," Mr Grogan said.

Magistrates imposed a four-month extension to a referral order, ordered his parents to pay £34 costs and added six points to his driver's licence when it is issued.