A STUDENT took his landlord’s car without permission and crashed into a cafe in Northampton, forcing its closure for the past three months.
Duke Ratemo, aged 21, was speeding in a VW Golf, which he had taken in January to collect his girlfriend, but crashed it into a wall.
The force of the impact caused structural damage to Wolfie’s Cafe, in Earl Street, the Mounts, shattered the car’s windscreen and damaged its bumper. Northampton Crown Court heard Ratemo, who did not have a licence or insurance, then drove off and returned the car.
Alex Bull, prosecuting, said the car’s owner came home to find it damaged and covered in brick dust. A witness reported seeing a flash and hearing the collision, and later described it as “one of the loudest bangs” he had ever heard.
Ratemo, of Middlemore, Southfields, Northampton was charged with aggravated taking of a vehicle and dangerous driving.
However, he pleaded guilty yesterday to careless driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and driving without a licence or insurance.
The court heard he admitted going too fast and losing control before crashing into the wall.
Judge Richard Bray disqualified the Kenyan-born student from driving for a year, with a 12-month community order, a £300 fine and he must do 80 hours’ community service. The judge said: “The disqualification is discretionary but not when you crash into a cafe and destroy a wall.”
The damage to Wolfie’s Cafe has still to be repaired three months on and it has remained closed until further notice since the crash, which happened at about 9.15pm on Saturday, January 29.
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