October 7, 2019 9.08 am This story is over 53 months old

Learner driver crashed at 70mph in Lincoln city centre

He took his partner’s car while she was sleeping
Stock photo: Lincolnshire Police

A learner driver took his partner’s car and drove it around the city centre at 70 mph before crashing.

Ricky Winn, 34 and of Scott Gardens in Lincoln, attracted the attention of police because the Audi he was driving had faulty rear brake lights.

Philip Plant, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that he took his partner’s car without permission while she was asleep.

He said: “She went to bed. When she woke the car was missing and the defendant and a friend had gone.

“A police officer on patrol saw the Audi and noticed it had no brake lights showing.”

Mr Plant said that Winn ignored a request to stop and drove away up Lindum Road.

“He sped off at 70 mph along Pottergate and onto Nettleham Road.

“At the roundabout with Longdales Road, he was involved in an accident with a Ford Focus.

“The Audi hit the Focus at speed causing the Focus to spin around.

“Winn and his passenger decanted from the vehicle and tried to escape from the scene.”

The pair ran off but were caught in Marlowe Drive and Winn was arrested. The Ford Focus was severely damaged.

Winn admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a full licence and failing to stop on August 8 of this year.

He was given a six month jail sentence suspended for a year with 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs. He was also banned from driving for 18 months.

Neil Sands, for Winn, said: “He was a provisional licence holder. He was insured to drive when supervised by his partner. He took the car without permission while she was asleep.”