Hartlepool man stole and crashed his dad's car while almost three times the drink drive limit

Marc Slimings, 31, pleaded guilty to five charges when he appeared before Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

He admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a licence and driving without insurance. He also admitted driving with 100 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with the limit being 35.

Slimings, of the town’s Mildenhall Close, also admitted to a charge of assaulting a police officer after hitting him in the head with his shoe after he was arrested and taken to the police custody suite.

Andrew Teate, defending, said there were two collisions during the driving of the stolen vehicle on Friday, November 29, and he was arrested.

Mr Teate said on Sunday, December 1, there was a disagreement between Slimings and his father at the family home and the defendant was arrested for a breach of the peace.

Ansab Shan, prosecuting, told the court that the disagreement had been about the driving matters.

He said: “Whilst in the custody suite he was asked to take his shoelaces out. While he was taking out his laces he threw his shoe at the officer and it struck him in the head.”

The case against Slimings was adjourned until Thursday, January 9, at 2pm to allow for a pre-sentence report to be written. He was given an interim driving ban until the case is heard again.