A man who fled after crashing his partner’s car was still struggling to come to term with his brother’s death, a court heard.

Banned driver Nicholas Carter denied responsibility for the smash, in which he wrecked bollards outside a Dewsbury takeaway.

He was caught when officers followed a leaking trail of fuel to the abandoned VW then linked it to his address.

His solicitor said that the incident happened around the anniversary of his brother Jack’s killing.

Prosecutor Robert Campbell told Kirklees magistrates that at 11pm the 33-year-old left his home in Foxroyd Lane Estate, Thornhill, with his partner’s car keys.

She followed Carter out to the vehicle, but despite her protests he drove away.

The manager of a pizza takeaway on Overthorpe Road called police when he failed to stop after smashing into some bollards outside the premises.

Mr Campbell said: “Police arrived and found a trail of fuel leading away from the bollards.

“On following that they found the vehicle abandoned. The front number plate was missing and there was damage to the fuel tank.”

As officers examined the scene, Carter and a friend pulled up in another vehicle.

He denied any knowledge of the incident and left but police traced the car’s owner back to his address.

Mr Campbell said: “On arrival they found the two men who had denied the matter at the house.

“Carter was arrested and a Police National Computer Check showed that he was disqualified from driving.”

Carter admitted using a vehicle whilst disqualified.

A charge of aggravated vehicle taking against him was dropped, although Mr Campbell said that there were several aggravating features to the offence.

In April 2012 Carter was banned from the road for 40 months after drink-driving.

At the time he said that he turned to drink following the death of his brother.

Jack Carter was killed in a street attack in Thornhill Lees in August 2011.

Mohammed Nazakat Alam was jailed for 21 months for his manslaughter.

Paul Blanchard, for Carter, said that the offence happened around the anniversary of his brother’s death.

He said: “The anniversary of this incident resulted in him doing some stupid things.”

Magistrates adjourned sentencing so that Carter could be interviewed by a member of probation staff.