Boat joy rider held in custody (From Daily Echo)

Boat joy rider held in custody

7:50am Friday 20th January 2012 in Shipping

A POWERBOAT joy rider, who fled from court during a lunch break, was re-arrested on a bail warrant and brought before a judge.

Andrew Colman, 20, appeared at Southampton Crown Court shortly before Christmas for sentence for taking and driving away the £250,000 craft belonging and causing about £15,000 damage with it.

The court then heard how Colman had been drinking when he got into the powerboat called G & T, started the engine and drove it around Hythe Marina, “bouncing” off walls and other boats.Colman told police he had been drinking and didn’t want to go home as it was raining.

Panicked Seeing an open window on the powerboat, he went on board, the court heard.

At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, the hearing was adjourned and Colman was granted bail on condition he remained within the precincts of the court but he disappeared and Judge Peter Henry issued a warrant.

Defence barrister Richard Griffiths said his babysitter phoned to say his eight-month-old son had been taken ill and he panicked.

At the latest hearing Recorder Philip Mott QC rejected a bail application and remanded him in custody until February 7 for reports.