A teenager from Fishguard who took his stepmother’s car without consent in Carew has been given a 12-month community order.

Eighteen-year-old Joseph David Lawson, of Vergam Terrace, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to taking a motor vehicle without consent in Carew; driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence; and using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that the victim, Mr. Lawson’s stepmother, was at home on the night of September 21, with her young son and the defendant, when she went upstairs to bed.

“She later got up to go to the kitchen with her baby, and noticed around 1 am that her car keys were not present and there was a space where her car should have been, so she contacted the police,” she explained.

Police located the vehicle parked at a railway junction in Johnston, with Mr. Lawson nearby.

“He said in a police interview that he hadn’t taken his sleeping medication and couldn’t think clearly, so he decided to take the car for a ride,” Ms Morgan told the court.

“Mr. Lawson had been living with his father, step mum and little brother in Carew, and knew that he wasn’t allowed to drive the car,” she added.

The defendant’s solicitor told magistrates that his client had been entirely co-operative with the police.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that Mr. Dawson, who had been given an existing referral order in the youth court, had ongoing mental health issues and substance misuse concerns, and that she recommended revoking the referral order and re-sentencing the defendant so that probation officers could carry on the support work the youth offending team had given him.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order on Mr. Lawson, with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

The defendant was fined £20 and given six points on his driving licence for the offences, and ordered to pay costs of £85, a £60 victim surcharge and a £150 court charge.