A YOUNG motorist has admitted reversing into a car driven by his former partner.

Jonathan Andrew Cummings previously denied a charge of dangerous driving, arising from the incident, in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street.

His counsel at the earlier hearing, Anne Richardson, told Durham Crown Court that, “by pure coincidence”, the victim was his estranged partner, who was picking someone up when the collision took place.

But, on his return to Durham Crown Court for the scheduled trial, this week (Tuesday January 27), his latest legal representative, barrister Louise Harrison, asked for the charge to be put again.

Twenty-four-year-old Cummings changed his plea to ‘guilty’ to the offence, which took place as he reversed his Volkswagen Polo in Medway, Great Lumley, on the evening of Tuesday August 26.

Miss Harrison asked for the case to be adjourned to allow for the preparation of background reports on Cummings by the Probation Service.

“He has a number of previous cautions, but no convictions, until now,” added Mrs Harrison.

Sam Faulks, for the prosecution, asked for an interim driving ban to be imposed prior to sentence.

Judge Robert Adams agreed, and said he would fix the exact length of the ban at the sentencing hearing.

He bailed Cummings, of Sevenacres, Great Lumley, to return for sentence on Friday February 27.