THREE Cardigan teenagers who took a friend’s car without permission ended up crashing it, magistrates have heard.

Rhys Brown, 18, of Blaen Treweryll, Blaenffos, 18-year-old Jordan Phillips, of 33 Golwg y Castell, and Jimmy Roberts, 19, of 34 Golwg y Castell, all pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking after the incident on 4 June, with Brown admitting aggravated vehicle taking by allowing himself to be carried in the car.

Phillips and Roberts also both admitted charges of driving other than in accordance with a driving licence and having no insurance.

Rhian Jones, prosecuting, said the three had taken a Ford Fiesta belonging to Leon Howe, a friend of Phillips who was staying at his home following a night out in Cardigan.

Brown had asked for the keys to the car to get some alcohol from it that they had bought earlier, but Mr Howe told police that he had not given them permission to drive the car.

However, shortly afterwards Brown and Phillips told Mr Howe that someone had taken the car and damaged it.

Ms Jones said a witness had seen the car crash into a lamppost on a roundabout by the Cardigan bypass and when police attended they found the car, although nobody was there.

Mr Howe attended at Cardigan Police Station and Brown and Phillips went with him and admitted that they had taken the car with Phillips driving it into town, with Brown in the passenger seat.

They came across Roberts who got into the car and took over driving with Roberts driving when the car crashed.

All three admitted that they had not had permission to drive the car.

Alan Lewis, defending Roberts said it was a “very unfortunate incident” with Roberts admitting it was “exceedingly foolish”.

Roberts doesn’t know Mr Howe, but said he knew the car did not belong to Brown or Phillips so accepted he had been involved in taking the vehicle although he was not present when it was first taken.

Mr Lewis said all three would probably not have been charged by police if they had given a no comment interview, but said their honesty in telling the police what had happened had led to them appearing in court.

Alison Mathias, representing Brown and Phillips, added: “This was a very foolish prank between friends. There’s very little thought gone into this. My clients are very apologetic and embarrassed about this incident.”

Ms Mathias said Brown had not driven the car, but would receive a driving ban for his part in the car being taken.

Presiding magistrate Brian Ashton said: “It’s an unfortunate incident. I hope you’ve learnt something from it.”

All three were given a 12-month community order and will have to compete 40 hours of unpaid work. They will each pay compensation of £150 to Mr Howe as well as costs totalling £135 and were banned from driving for a year.