Scrapman caught on CCTV ramming into his stepfather's van parked in Wearside street

Banned driver Craig Place’s actions left victim Vincent Young perplexed when he noticed his vehicle was not in the exact spot he had left it in Queen Elizabeth Drive, Easington Lane.

On checking his security system, he saw Place, 27, of Handley Crescent, East Rainton, was responsible and police were alerted, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

The offence, on September 20, was among a litany of mainly driving-related crimes for which Place pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

But he also admitted using threatening behaviour towards Mr Young on Monday, September 23, during which he branded him a ‘grass’ and threatened to damage the tyres of his 57-plate Maximus LDV van.

Prosecutor Clare Irving said Mr Young realised something was amiss at 5.20pm when he approached his vehicle and found “it had moved down the street”.

She said CCTV showed Place, who had known Mr Young for 10 years and is dating his partner’s daughter, had struck the van, then reversed and driven off.

Mrs Irving said damage, including to a bumper and radiator, amounted to about £700.

Place also pleaded guilty to driving a white Ford Transit van in Queen Elizabeth Drive while disqualified and driving without insurance on September 20.

He also pleaded guilty to driving a Vauxhall Astra in Lawrence Street, Sunderland, while disqualified and without insurance, both on Tuesday, October 1.

Mrs Irving said Place, a jobless scrap metal man, was arrested for those offences after being spotted by a police officer driving at 12.45pm.

She said the PC turned his vehicle around and caught up with Place’s Astra and then saw it rocking to and fro as the defendant swapped seats with his female passenger.

Paul McAlindon, defending, said: “Mr Place says there’s an element of provocation. Mr Young is Mr Place’s stepfather. It’s fair to that Mr Young doesn’t approve of Mr Place.

“He accepts that he did drive his van into his and did call him a grass.”

Of the October 1 offences, he added: “He was driving with his partner. He fully accepts that he was driving when disqualified.

“He’s a young man with some quite significant issues, he has mental health issues.”

Deputy district judge Arlegh Davies said Place’s behaviour had been “appalling” and sentenced him to 18 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months.

The sentence was made up of eight weeks for each of the driving while disqualified charges and two weeks for using threatening behaviour, running concurrently.

Place, who was banned from driving in April for six-months under the totting up process, was also ordered to pay £400 compensation to Mr Young and was hit with a 12-month restraining order against Mr Young or a second neighbour.

He was ordered to complete a Thinking Skills programme, undertake 11 rehabilitation days with the Probation Service, carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, and was banned from driving for 18 months.