A TEENAGER took his grandfathers Land Rover Discovery before causing it to break down on a dangerous bend, a court heard.

Benjamin Hammond, 19, of Holmer Road, Hereford, took the car from his home address before driving around with friends.

He pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday to taking the car without the owners consent, driving without a licence and having no insurance.

Amy Davies, prosecuting, said that police were called in the early hours of September 21, to the B4224 between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye to a Land Rover which had a flat tyre and had broken down on a 'bad bend'.

Mrs Davies said: "Police spoke to the driver who said that the car had caught the kerb causing damage to the tyre. "The car belonged to his grandfather who was staying at his address.

"On interview Hammond said that he took the car without his grandfather's consent to drive around with friends."

Emily Gourley, mitigating, said that the only damage caused was a flat tyre and there hadn't been a crash or any injuries.

Mrs Gourley said: "He regrets the action, knew it was wrong and it was a silly decision."

He has previous convictions as a youth and went to custody in 2014.

A probation report stated that this was a 'temporary lapse' in his progress and he couldn't explain why he did it.

"He just did something really stupid and his mates had been egging him on," said the report.

Hammond has since paid his grandfather for the damaged caused to the vehicle.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 12 months and ordered him to complete 40 hours unpaid work.

Hammond was also ordered to pay a £50 fine, £135 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.