An employee took his works van without permission and ended up driving it into a wall, a court heard.

Liam Jordan, 29, only had a provisional licence but decided to borrow the Citroen Relay van to help move house, Skipton magistrates were told.

He put the van into first gear instead of reverse and hit a wall at Greenroyd Mills, Sutton-in-Craven, near Keighley, before driving off.

Although the collision was witnessed by a resident and picked up on CCTV cameras, police were unable to identify the driver – until Jordan himself reported what he had done at Cross Hills Police Station, the court heard.

Jordan, of Greenroyd Mills, Sutton, was told that he would be fined rather than given a community sentence because of his co-operation with police and because of his early guilty pleas.

He admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a licence and driving without due care and attention.

He also admitted using a vehicle without insurance and failing to stop after the accident on August 25.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Jordan, a shop fitter employed by a Keighley firm, had borrowed the van in addition to employing a removals firm.

He said Jordan had panicked after hitting the wall and had driven off, but had then gone to the police station in Cross Hills where he had admitted to everything.

He had paid for the damage to the van and was still employed by the company, said Mr Mewies.

Jordan was fined £600 and banned from driving for a year.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victims surcharge of £60.