BMW boy, 11, banned from driving

An 11-year-old boy who was caught behind the wheel of a BMW has been disqualified from driving for a year.

Police in Andover, Hants, stopped a car in August because its headlights were not on, Basingstoke Youth Court heard.

Officers noticed the driver was "very short" and when they signalled for the car to stop it crossed over into the other lane just missing a lamppost.

The boy had pleaded guilty to several driving offences. He was also given a four-month supervision order.

The boy, who has behavioural and learning disabilities, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, driving without a licence and driving without insurance at an earlier hearing.

In addition to the driving ban and supervision order, chairman of the bench, Esther MacDonald, imposed three penalty points for driving without a licence and six penalty points for driving without insurance.

When he was caught, the boy claimed he owned the car, did not realise he needed a licence and that he knew how to drive.

He claimed he had swapped the BMW for his mini-motorbike with a man he had met in Winchester.

Sentencing him on Wednesday, Mrs MacDonald said: "If you break any of the terms of the order we will bring you back to court and we can punish you in a different way."

Youths can appear in court on driving charges, despite being under age.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...re/4289930.stm

[ 09-29-2005, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

I'm not sure that banning him for one year really solves anything...why not at least ban him until he's 18 so that he can't drive for the first year that he's legally allowed to do so?

*sigh* no comment!

Coincedently, we also had an eleven year old lad driving speeding a car (apparently stolen) through our village, swerving all over the roads. Its a miracle he didn't kill anyone.

A lot of youths are too fascinated by driving, IMO. I personally don't see any such 'thrill' in an everyday activity, but it seems all the Chavs have dreams of becoming boy-racer studs. :rolleyes:

But I agree, he shouldn't be allowed to drive for a year or so after he reaches the legal age. That'll learn 'im! ;)

What will they do if they catch him driving again after the ban has expired? I'm so cunfuzzled.

I wonder what the guy with BMW was thinking when he swapped it for that minibike. :D

Dream characters don't usually have thoughts... :D

Whatever happeend to parental responsibility? How on earth can a 11-yr old get to drive??? :mad:

[ 10-02-2005, 11:55 PM: Message edited by: Hayashi ]