Court hears man stole friend's BMW & crashed it

A man who stole his friend’s BMW and crashed it on the Mountain Road was out of prison on licence at the time, a court’s heard.

David Christopher Scott Rowson of Spring Valley Road in Douglas appeared before Deputy High Bailiff James Brooks at Douglas Courthouse.

The 33 year old admitted taking a car without its owner’s consent on June 24 last year.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the hearing witnesses saw Rowson and another man get out of the car at the Waterworks after it crashed and ended up badly damaged in the middle of the road.

Both men left the scene but Rowson was later traced after DNA tests were carried out on blood found on the driver’s airbag – when interviewed he denied being in the car and said he couldn’t explain how his blood got there.

The court heard his passenger had already been sentenced to nine months of community service for his part in the incident.

Mr Brooks said he wouldn’t send Rowson straight back to prison because he was trying to turn his life around, but said the parole board might take a different view.

Rowson was ordered to spend a year on probation as well as carry out 70 hours of community service.

He was also banned from the roads for two years and ordered to pay £125 costs.