A MOTORIST, 20, was warned that his car is a weapon which can kill after crashing into a fence while attempting “donuts” on a playing field.

Max Tanner, of Lightpill, Stroud, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving without due care and attention and one count of failure to report an accident at Stroud Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Tanner, who has held a driving licence for just over two years, was holding back tears as bench chairman Sue Davenport warned him about the dangers of reckless driving.

“You came out of it without injuring yourself or anyone else but there could have been a different outcome.

“A car is a weapon. It can kill people. What you were doing was messing around. Some 18-year-old could have been walking home after a party and could have been hit or killed. I want you to learn from this.”

The court heard how Tanner had been caught on police CCTV leaving grooves in the wet ground while attempting “donuts” in the playing fields and car park of Stratford Park Leisure Centre in his Peugeot 106 on December 29 and January 2.

On the first occasion he drove along a footpath and the second time he hit a fence and had to use a saw to free his car which he then left abandoned on a grassy area.

Tanner was ordered to pay £125 compensation, £85 costs, and £75 in fines and he was given eight penalty points.