A MAN who “borrowed” his brother’s moped to pop to the shop for some cigarettes admitted taking it without his permission when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle.

Thomas Michael Robertshaw was spending Christmas with his family in Ilminster when he decided to take the bike without asking as he knew his brother would have said no.

Robertshaw, 21, of Stapleton Road, Shrewsbury, admitted taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent at Ilminster on Boxing Day last year.

He also admitted using the vehicle without insurance and without a licence when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates sitting at Yeovil.

Emma Lenanton, prosecuting, said on the day in question a woman was driving her car out of Blackdown View in Ilminster at 10.40am when she slowed down and pulled out around a parked van.

“A moped was coming in the opposite direction and collided with the front of her vehicle and the female driver then got out to assist the defendant, who was the other driver,” she said.

“However Robertshaw just got up, and said he was OK and started to push the moped away, and would not give his address. The female driver and her mother followed him to an address in Blackdown View and spoke to a male, who was the defendant’s brother, who and he confirmed he was the owner of the bike and Robertshaw had been riding it without his permission.”

Miss Lenanton said that the defendant had never held a driving licence, not even a provisional one, and the damage to the moped was irreparable so meant his brother had to buy a new one.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said: “He foolishly decided to borrow his brother’s moped to get to the local garage and knew his brother wouldn’t have let him take it.

“Whilst riding the bike the accident happened, although he was not actually at fault, and involved the other car pulling round a parked van on a blind bend and the two vehicles came together. However, he was not insured and should not have been on the moped.”

For taking the vehicle without consent the magistrates sentenced him to a six-week curfew order from 6pm to 6am daily and also disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

He was fined £100 for having no insurance and also ordered him to pay £50 compensation to his brother, £25 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. No separate penalty was imposed for the licence offence.