A court hears how a Seaton man backs into a lamppost when out driving in a stolen car.

A Seaton car thief has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Alexander John Carey, of The Burrow, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking when he appeared at Central Devon Magistrates’ Court.

The 20-year-old also admitted damaging the vehicle and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

The court heard the owner of a Volvo car noticed his vehicle was missing during the evening of February 24 and believed he may have accidentally left his keys in the vehicle. It was not until the following evening that the car was discovered with extensive damage in a car park in Ottery St Mary.

Sonya Oldakowska, for the prosecution, said several people were spoken to regarding the incident and Carey accepted that he had been driving the vehicle.

He told police a friend had given him the keys and he had driven the car for a substantial time.

The court heard the defendant had backed the car into a lamppost, causing damage to the rear bumper and lights.

Miss Oldakowska said the car had subsequently been scrapped and the owner had been “left out of pocket” in regards to his insurance excess.

Carey has previous convictions for interfering with motor vehicles and aggravated vehicle taking dating back to 2008.

Jeremy Wickham, for the defence, said: “He has had no convictions as an adult.

“It seems the owner of the car left the keys in the car. He (Carey) was given the keys by somebody else.

“He accepts he used the car and had driven it from Seaton to Lyme Regis and back.”

Carey denied driving the car on a 300-mile trip.

At the time of the offence, Mr Wickham said Carey was having problems with his partner and had been associating with the ‘wrong people’.

The defendant was ordered to pay �50 compensation for the damage caused to the car and had his driving licence endorsed.