Drunk teenager who crashed his father's car into house avoids jail but has pocket money stopped

A drunk teenager who smashed his father’s £100,000 sports car into an elderly couple’s house, causing £25,000 worth of damage, has avoided a jail sentence. But Birmingham Crown Court heard Harry Bishop’s pocket money had been stopped by his furious father, who also banned him from going on holiday. The 19-year-old was twice the drink-drive limit when he crashed the Audi R8 into Harold and Janet Perry’s house as they were sleeping. It happened less than 100 meters from his own home in Sutton Coldfield at 4.30am on May 2.
Bishop awoke his father Martin and told him: ‘I have just crashed your car into a house’ before they returned to the scene. Recorder Anthony Warner handed the IT apprentice a 15-month suspended sentence after he admitted aggravated vehicle taking, drink driving and driving without insurance at an earlier hearing. He also ordered Bishop to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and placed him under an electronically-monitored curfew for three months. The teenager was banned from the roads for two-and-a-half years. The judge told Bishop: “You demonstrated a quite fantastic lapse of judgement in the moment you decided to get into your father’s car. I have no doubt you feel shame and disgrace.”
The judge said Bishop was only saved from an immediate jail term by his positive references and burgeoning IT career. He added: “For you, going to prison would have a disastrous effect. I don’t consider any public interest would be served by sending you to prison now.” Bishop, of Netherstone Grove, Four Oaks, lives just a stone’s throw from the Perrys’ house in Hill Hook Road. The court heard 72-year-old Mr Perry and his 71-year-old wife were likely to sue to recover their costs. Bishop had an allowance from his parents stopped and was banned from going on holiday with friends after the crash. The court heard he was surviving on £100-week-wages and had been ordered to carry out more chores at home.

Naomi Gilchrist, defending, said: “For a defendant who is simply not given to criminal behavior the embarrassment, shame and fear of such proceedings can not be underestimated. He has felt all three in spades. He completely accepts responsibility for his actions and is genuinely remorseful. His father, while supportive, was angry and disappointed. He no longer receives an allowance to top up his apprenticeship pay. It is a full-time position and reflects pay of around £2.30 an hour.” Ms Gilchrist said Bishop had been looking forward to the holiday with pals but had been told he could not go. “He has accepted that without question,” she said. It was also heard Bishop had apologized in person to Mr and Mrs Perry and had offered to help them in any way he could.