Man in court over teen's death crash (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Man in court over teen's death crash

9:11am Wednesday 9th July 2008 in Swindon By Emily Walker

A 23-year-old has appeared in court in connection with the crash that killed a Swindon teenager on Christmas Day.

Nicholas Love is accused of knocking down 18-year-old Chris Garrod in Great Western Way in the early hours of Christmas morning.

Chris died at the scene.

At Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday Love, 23, of Stratton St Margaret, denied one charge of driving without due care and attention .

The court heard that he was also accused of failing to stop and give his details after the accident and driving without insurance on December 25.

Love also admitted three unrelated fraud charges of driving off without paying for petrol during November last year.

On November 24, Love filled up the tank of his car at the Culpert service station in Cricklade with £49.88 of fuel, on November 20 he again stole petrol from the service station, this time with £41 of fuel and on November 17 he stole £44.95 of fuel from the garage on Dorcan Way.

On all three occasions he was captured on CCTV as he left the forecourts without paying.

Nikki Wootton, prosecuting, said: "These charged relate to three similar matters on November 17, 20 and 24 of making off from the service station with no intention to pay."

The court was also told that Love had a previous conviction for stealing fuel from a petrol station Terry McCarthy, for the defence, said: "Mr Love is presently unemployed and has no income.

"When working he was required to deal with certain chemicals and protective clothing was provided. But the protective clothing failed and he suffered an injury causing him to be laid off. He was unable to continue work.

"At the time of these offences he needed transport and had no money to obtain petrol. He attended the service station, filled up and left without payment.

"I accept these matters were premeditated and I accept there have been matters of a similar nature before."

The chairwoman of the bench, Manie Beasent, said: "You filled up your car on three occasions in a week here.

"This is a pretty full tank on each occasion. Where on earth was he driving to?

"What we are dealing with is three matters of helping yourself to petrol without any intention of paying. We believe these are more serious because you went out there deliberately and you have been convicted of similar offences before.

"These three matters of taking petrol without paying will be dealt with by way of a community order."

Love was ordered to complete 210 hours of unpaid work.

He was released on bail for the charges of careless driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. A trial date is due to be set in August.