A MAN took his ex-girlfriend's car without her consent because he couldn't accept their relationship was over, a court heard.

Rai McClane, of Vane Terrace, Darlington, appeared before South Durham magistrates yesterday.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to taking his former partner's car, as well as driving without insurance and harassing her.

Derek Walton, prosecuting, said: "The defendant had been in a relationship with Katie Claxton for about six years when the relationship ended.

"It was July 17, at about 10.15pm, when she received a call from him. He had been unable to accept the separation and told her he had done something. She looked outside her house and saw her car was missing."

Miss Claxton also said McClane broke her mobile phone and pushed her to the ground.

McClane, who represented himself, accepted taking her car, but denied breaking her phone and pushing her.

He said: "I had spent that day with her and we had been getting on well.

"I later saw a text message which made it clear she was seeing someone else.

"When I arrived home, I saw a spare set of her keys and decided to take her car. This was a vindictive thing to do, but I only drove it around the corner. I did take her phone, but it only broke as she tried to take it from me. It is the struggle that caused her to fall. I accept it was due to my actions that she fell, but I did not push her."

For taking the car, McClane was fined £180 and £80 for driving with no insurance. He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation for the mobile phone and £60 in court costs.

Six penalty points were added to his licence.