Llanelli Magistrates' Court
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A SWANSEA man has been given a suspended prison sentence for allowing himself to be driven in a stolen car as a passenger in Llanelli.
While appearing at Llanelli Magistrates' Court, Darren Andrew David Steel, of Lon Camlad in Morriston pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated vehicle taking (being carried on) and vehicle damage of £5,000 or over.
The 31-year-old also admitted possession of a class C drug — 92 Diazepam tablets.
The court heard on February 8 at 7.20pm, a car crashed into a wall at Ynys Las, Llwynhendy in Llanelli, and three males then got out of the vehicle and made off.
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The impact of the crash saw the airbags on the passenger and driver sides deployed.
A forensic examination was carried out on the vehicle, a Renault Scenic, which found Steel's prints in the vehicle.
He was arrested at a later date, March 5, and admitted to officers he had drugs on his possession.
He provided a 'no comment' interview at the police station.
The court heard the car was written off as a result of the crash.
Mitigating, Craig Harding said: "Mr Steel has various mental health difficulties and suffers from afflictions.
"He is currently subject to a post sentence supervision order and it's all a relatively positive report.
"He was a passenger in the vehicle but he is not prepared to name who was driving the vehicle, but the person was known to the complainant and he said it was not a theft.
"He knew the person driving the vehicle would have returned it but the accident did complicate matters.
"He accepts there was an accident and allowed himself to be carried but was not himself responsible for the accident."
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Mr Harding added that Steel accepts it was a "large amount of drugs" and had a problem with the drug Valium at the time.
The offence predates a recent custodial sentence, the court heard, and Steel has "taken time to evaluate himself and has continued progress since his release", Mr Harding added.
Magistrates gave Steel a 32-week suspended prison sentence, and ordered him to pay £85 costs, £80 victim surcharge, and £200 compensation to the owner of the vehicle.
He has been disqualified from driving for a year, and an order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-man-passenger-unlawfully-taken-car/story-29382073-detail/story.html#ixzz4BI8nF6d4
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