Crook man avoided prison after crashing stolen van

Andrew Slater was forced to drive the van to clear debts owed to 'unscrupulous' people, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard. The 37-year-old was traced by his DNA being recovered from the deployed airbag of the Mercedes Sprinter van. James Gallagher, prosecuting, said the van was abandoned in the middle of the A50 in Staffordshire near the Blythe Bridge interchange.

He said: "He has a poor driving record including driving whilst disqualified and driving uninsured." Slater, of West Springs, Crook, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, driving without insurance and driving whilst disqualified on April 18 last year. Adam Scott, mitigating, said his client found himself owing ?4,000 to some 'unscrupulous' people after he found himself effectively homeless following the breakdown of his marriage.

He said: "He says the reason for the offence was he was asked to travel to Staffordshire and drive the van back to the North East. "It turns out the van was stolen but he had nothing to do with that. "He says the men were unscrupulous and they told him they knew where his wife and child were.

"Instead of going to the police, he decided to drive the van on that day." William Unsworth, the chairman of the magistrates' bench, said: "Your record is not very good - it is truly terrible." Slater was sentenced to 26 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months, ordered to attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and told to pay ?239 towards court costs.

Disqualifying Slater from driving for 15 months, Mr Unsworth added: "If you get caught driving whilst disqualified and come back here, you will be going to prison."