A HIGHBRIDGE man who stole his own mother’s car and drove it around while “off his head” told police he did it because he thought it would be funny.

Macaulay Douris said he had been drinking and taking drugs before taking the car and accepted he had no licence or insurance.

He took the car a few days before Christmas and told his mother he would return it later that day but didn’t.

He sent a similar message the following day and a third party then became involved and located the vehicle with the defendant.

Douris, 22, of Tanning Drive, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and at The Green in Stoford and driving it without insurance on December 22.

When he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil they were told that he was also subject to a suspended prison sentence imposed at Taunton Crown Court for offences of possession of an imitation firearm and assault with intent to rob.

Ben Winzer, prosecuting, said that the complainant was the defendant’s mother and she called the police on December 22 saying her car keys had been taken and she suspected her son was responsible.

“She had a text message from Douris saying that he had the vehicle and would return it later that day, however he didn’t,” he said.

“He sent a similar message the following day but did not return it and a third party eventually contacted his mother indicating the location of the vehicle.

“Douris was found with the car and said he had gone back to his mother’s address after a night out and admitted taking her keys saying he thought it would be funny.

“He said he drove around ‘off his head’ and had been drinking and taking drugs before driving. He also accepted he did not have a licence or any insurance.”

Mr Winzer said the defendant had been given a 15 month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, at the crown court in May last year.

He was now in breach of that order for the second time by committing this latest set of offences. He breached it the first time just three months after its imposition for matters of criminal damage.

Defending solicitor Jeffrey Bannister said that because Douris was in breach of his suspended sentence he would now have to appear before a judge at Taunton Crown Court for all matters to be sentenced.

The magistrates adjourned the case until July 5 and ordered a pre sentence report to be prepared for the Probation Service.

Until his next court appearance the defendant was released on unconditional bail.