Driver let his pals car-surf, court told

A teenage driver twice allowed drunken friends to car-surf on his bonnet, slamming on the brakes so they fell off, a court heard yesterday.

Youcef Adjerid, 18, picked up the friends on his way from a Christmas party in his Fiat Punto.

He first allowed drunk Sam Riley to clamber onto the front of the car before driving down the road. He then slammed his foot on the brakes and laughed as Sam was thrown off the bonnet onto the ground, the court heard.

Adjerid then repeated the prank with Toby Hearne, 17, who was dressed as a Christmas present, but who managed to remain on his feet, it was said. The “dangerous stunt” happened as Adjerid drove home near Chippenham, Wiltshire, with friends just after midnight on December 22, 2011.

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Adjerid has denied one charge of dangerous driving at Swindon Crown Court.

The jury heard how Adjerid arrived late at a Christmas-themed fancy dress house party in Stanton St Quintin, Wiltshire, with friend Lewis Berrett. As the party was ending, he drove off with Lewis and another friend, Scott Lang, but came across four friends walking home along the road. Two of the lads, Joe Bodman and Toby Hearne, were dressed as Christmas presents and were with Hal Bailey and Sam Riley.

Stewart Patterson, prosecuting, said: “There was a certain amount of ribbing and merriment, but all in good nature. Sam Riley jumped on the bonnet of the car. The driver at that point should have stopped. He did not do that. He drove along for some distance before stopping.

“I’m not suggesting he drove fast, but he drove along the road. He braked sharply in order to throw the person off the bonnet, which the prosecution say is dangerous. Nobody was hurt by this driving, but the prosecution say it was nevertheless dangerous.

“The law states that dangerous driving occurs if the way he drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a competent driver that driving in that way would be dangerous.”

Lewis Berrett told the jury how Sam climbed on to the bonnet before Adjerid drove a few car lengths.

He said: “Youcef put the brake on and Sam fell off the bonnet. It was fairly sharply, I suppose. Sam fell off the front of the bonnet, but he picked himself up. He was fine, we were all just laughing.”

Mr Patterson told the jury how the stunt was repeated with Toby, who managed not to fall off when Adjerid slammed on the brakes. Adjerid is alleged to have driven at walking pace for around five metres each time.

Scott Lang told the court: “They were only on the bonnet for a couple of seconds and then fell off and had a laugh. I did not think anything of it. ”

He added that Adjerid had not accelerated when the friends were on his bonnet.

Defending, Alex Daymond told the court: “It was all a bit of a joke. No one was concerned about the safety of Sam and, indeed, Toby when he did it, too.”

The trial continues.