Man took dad's car in tax rebate row (From South Wales Guardian)

Man took dad's car in tax rebate row

8:00am Friday 12th October 2012 in News

ANGERED that his father had withheld his £220 tax rebate, a Penygroes man retaliated by taking his car in a bid to persuade him to change his mind, Llanelli magistrates were told.

Banned driver Nicholas Luke Flint pulled up after a few hundred yards when he realised the folly of his actions, the court heard.

But police had already been alerted and the 21-year-old was arrested at his home, said Dennis Davies, prosecuting.

Flint, of 54 Norton Road, had his driving ban extended by six months and received a fresh 12-month community order with 220 hours’ unpaid service after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified and having no insurance and failing to comply with the requirements of an existing community order.

Mr Davies told the court that on September 3 a member of Flint’s family had telephoned police to tell them he had taken his father’s black BMW and was driving down Norton Road.

When interviewed, Flint said: “I admit taking my dad’s car but he took my tax rebate from me.” Mr Davies said the defendant had received a community order in July for taking a vehicle without consent and having no insurance.

Aled Owen, for Flint, said his father had taken the rebate to put in a bank, rather than having his son spend it on “frivolous” items. “There was a bit of an argument and Mr Flint took his father’s car to try and put pressure on him to change his mind,” he said.

“He was only gone two minutes – he drove a mere few hundred yards – and was arrested coming out of the family home.”

Mr Owen said Flint had breached his community order after becoming depressed due to personal problems. He added that his client’s parents remained fully supportive and Flint had recently gained a job as an administrator.