An 18-year-old has ended up in court after taking his father’s car without permission to inflate the tyres.

Ethan Pickering, of Braeburn Close, Ipswich, appeared before the town’s South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

He pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent and driving with no insurance.

The offences occurred on October 17.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said Pickering’s father Adam was the owner of the Fiat Panda and was out shopping with his wife.

Mr Pickering received a call to say his son had taken the family car.

Magistrates were told police were called as the teenager was not insured and did not have permission to drive the vehicle.

The car was only taken for a short while and when police arrived at the family home Ethan Pickering was arrested.

He told an officer he took the vehicle as he knew the front and rear tyres needed pumping up.

Ms Small said the teenager said he had done so to “earn some brownie points with his father”.

Lyndon Davies, representing Ethan Pickering who had no previous convictions, said: “It’s very unfortunate this has come to court at all.

“If we were just dealing with taking without consent it would have been dealt with by a caution.”

The court was told Pickering has had a number of health issues.

Mr Davies said: “This incident is a rather misjudged attempt ... trying to do something nice and gain favour with Adam Pickering by taking the car and getting the tyres inflated because they were quite low. He did that and brought the car back.”

Magistrates endorsed Ethan Pickering’s licence with six penalty points and fined him a total of £145.

In addition he must pay £85 prosecution costs and £20 to the victims’ fund.