A DRIVER crashed into three parked vehicles after taking his girlfriend's new car without permission, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Curtis Titre, who has mental health problems, wrote off a £13,000 Peugeot in the crash in Roper Lane, Queensbury, at 6am on April 2 last year.

Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday that he took the £11,000 Volkswagen Golf, given to his girlfriend by her father a few days earlier, from the address he shared with her at Bracken Hill Court, Queensbury, Bradford.

Titre, who had a 16-year-old boy with him, quickly hit a parked Vauxhall Astra and Renault.

The Peugeot was then struck with such force that it was shunted into a gatepost and fencing, the court was told.

Titre, who suffers from psychotic behaviour, pleaded guilty aggravated vehicle taking and possession of cannabis.

He did not tell his girlfriend, who was staying with friends at the time, that he had crashed her car.

Titre, 24, now of Rhylstone Mount, Lidget Green, Bradford, made no comment in police interview but said swore at officers when charged and tore up the paperwork.

He had previous convictions for dangerous driving and attempted robbery and had caused anger, inconvenience and expense to all the vehicle owners, the court was told.

The 16-year-old with him in the car had been dealt with by magistrates who imposed a non-custodial sentence, the court was told.

Titre's barrister, Gerald Hendron, said his client had serious mental health problems.

Reports had been prepared by a probation officer and a psychiatrist detailing the bouts of psychosis he suffered from.

Judge Jonathan Rose told Titre: "I accept that you are not a well man and you need help from doctors."

Titre was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He must undergo mental health treatment in the community, under the care of his psychiatrist, and attend rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.

Judge Rose said such a sentence would afford the public more protection than the short prison term he could impose.

Titre was banned from driving for two years.

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