Underage joyrider sends woman into shock

BEN WATSON

CLOSE CALL: A car full of teenagers gave an elderly Torbay resident a rude awakening early on Sunday.

A joyride in his parents' car cost a 15-year-old a hefty repair bill and reprimand from the police.

The Browns Bay boy, who does not have a driver's licence, stole and crashed his parents' Mitsubishi in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He crashed after speeding along Stredwick Drive in Torbay with his friends.

The car went through the fence of 83-year-old Dalys Chatfield who woke to find it lodged in her shed.

Police called for an ambulance when Mrs Chatfield went into shock.

"I saw the car sitting right in my garden. I'm just so pleased that no one was hurt."

The boy and front seat passenger have been around to apologise.

They were accompanied by the driver's parents who offered the boys' help to fix the yard, Mrs Chatfield says.

"He's a lovely young kid, he's 15 and he made a mistake," Mrs Chatfield says of the driver.

"His curfew on Saturday night was 11pm.

"His parents said they heard him come home so they went to sleep. The next thing they heard the phone ring and it was the police."

The car's other occupants ran off after the crash. Those located are being dealt with by the police youth aid section.

"This type of incident is all too common," North Shore area commander inspector Les Paterson says.

- © Fairfax NZ News