A TEENAGE boy took a BMW 'in a moment of madness' and was caught driving round the streets of Barrow without insurance or a licence.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be identified because of the automatic anonymity afforded to under 18s in the youth court, appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The court heard the boy had taken the black BMW 1 Series at just after 11pm on the evening of Tuesday September 24.

He took the car without the owner's consent and then drove it in Barrow town centre before crashing the vehicle.

The damage caused in the one-car crash is estimated at being less than £5,000.

Because of his age, the boy was driving without a licence, and was also driving without third party insurance.

He pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

The teenage defendant, who was represented in court by defence solicitor Mike Graham, apologised for his actions.

Magistrates agreed to endorse his driving record and gave him a three-month youth offender panel contract.

They described the incident as a 'moment of madness' and added that the boy had 'learned his lesson and hopefully there will be no repeat offending'.

Youth offender panels are led by members of the community who will take the lead in challenging young offenders to take responsibility for their actions and helping them to change their behaviour for good.

Panel members will talk and listen to young offenders, their parents and victims.

Panels will also give victims a chance to say how the crime affected them and what might help put things right.

Each panel will have two community members who are volunteers from the local area and a professional from the local multi-agency youth offending team.