A TEENAGE joy-rider who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and wrote off a car by crashing it into a bungalow, has narrowly avoided jail.Sentencing 18-year-old Adam Pascoe (corr) , chairman of magistrates David Smith told the teenager: "You could have been going to prison today, but I have taken into consideration your remorse, co-operation and previous good character.

A TEENAGE joy-rider who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and wrote off a car by crashing it into a bungalow, has narrowly avoided jail.

Sentencing 18-year-old Adam Pascoe (corr) , chairman of magistrates David Smith told the teenager: "You could have been going to prison today, but I have taken into consideration your remorse, co-operation and previous good character."

South East Suffolk Magistrate's Court in Ipswich, heard yesterday how Pascoe was washing a car with two friends when an urge to take the Ford Mondeo for a spin proved too much.

Ignoring his lack of insurance and licence, Pascoe, who had the owner's consent to wash the car, decided to joyride out of Fleetwood Avenue.

But as close as Colneis Road, he lost control of the car and was helpless to stop it ploughing through a garden and smashing into a pensioner's bungalow.

Pascoe, of Garrison Lane, Felixstowe, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving otherwise than in accordance to the licence, and driving without insurance on April 2.

Prosecuting, Andrea Reynolds said: 'The car went through the gates and into the bungalow causing extensive damage and two interior walls to be completely rebuilt. We have exact sum for the damage caused but it will run into thousands.'

The cost of the written-off Mondeo was put at £3,100.

The owner, Anne Callaghan, (corr) had to pay £300 excess on her insurance claim and lost her no-claims bonus.

Speaking in the teenager's defence, Ian Persaud told the court the accident was 'impulsiveness that got out of hand'.

He said: "My client is a charitable type. He knows right from wrong and didn't run away after the crash but stayed at the scene and asked for the police to be called.

"He is a lovely person. He is a charitable type and the sort of man to buy people outside Tesco a drink."

But at the time of the crash Inspector Andy Bushell, of Felixstowe police, said it was a miracle nobody was seriously hurt.

He said: "The accident happened in a busy, populated area and it was an irresponsible and stupid act."

Taking into account the teenager's remorse and his 'anxiety over a prison sentence' he instead sentenced Pascoe to one hundred hours community service, ordered him to pay £200 to the owner of the Mondeo a further £300 to the bungalow owner and £55 court costs.

Pascoe's interim driving ban was increased for a year, disallowing the teenager from driving until April 19, 2003.

The chairman of magistrates concluded: "You are not allowed to drive or even push cars until that date. In fact I would advise you to keep away from cars altogether."