Fine for uninsured driver who crashed his father’s car

Wednesday 08 August 2018

A 21-year-old man, who drove his father’s car without permission or insurance - and later crashed - has been fined £3,500 and ordered to pay almost £1,500 damages.

Fraser Burrough told the Magistrate’s Court he was back in the island on a short visit in April and borrowed the car “to go to the shops."

When police reached the site of the crash at Rue de la Corbière just after 20:00 on 4 April they found the car blocking both sides of the road. It had sustained extensive damage, with wreckage strewn over a wide area. Both air bags had gone off, and a low granite wall had been demolished.

Police say Burrough was very helpful, admitting driving without insurance, and said that he was not used to driving the car: he had applied the brakes when a rabbit ran out in front of him. There was no one else in the car at the time, and a breath test proved negative.

Sentencing Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu said it was highly negligent of Burrough to drive when he knew full well that he was not insured having been specifically told so by his dad. He fined him £1,000 for driving without due care and attention, and £2,500 for not being insured. He was also banned from driving in the island for three months.