A GIRL, 16, who crashed her grandmother's car into a power pole, killing a friend in Middle Dural in September 2008, will serve her six-month jail sentence at home. She pleaded guilty in Parramatta District Court on September 4 to dangerous driving causing death. Judge Roy David Ellis sentenced her to a maximum term of 15 months with a non-parole period of six months and bailed her on Friday, November 13, after finding her suitable for home detention. She will wear an electronic monitoring device, be allowed to complete year 12, and has been banned from driving for three years. On the day of the crash, she had taken her grandmother's car from the garage in Annangrove and drove her friend and sister around having had just 24 hours' driving experience and having held her licence for six weeks. The car was doing about 90km/h in a 60km/h zone when it crashed in Coppabella Road, killing her classmate, Stephanie Evans. Stephanie's father, Ian Evans, said home detention was merely like being grounded and that the girl should have been jailed to set an example to other young drivers. The girl was also fined $100 for not displaying L-plates, $100 for driving without a licensed driver and $200 for taking and driving the car.

Stealing charge takes time

A man has been charged with larceny almost a year after allegedly stealing from Big W at Rouse Hill Town Centre. Police say the Berkshire Park man, 23, filled a trolley with Playstation and Nintendo games, socks, underpants, a T-shirt, iPod docking station, CDs and laminator, together valued at $2200. The recovered goods were forensically tested, police said.

Driver accused of injuring teenagers

The driver of a car in which six teenage passengers were hurt when it hit a tree in Bella Vista at 6am on Sunday, November8, has appeared in court on six charges including driving while disqualified. Michael Tenn, 29, of Baulkham Hills, was arrested on Wednesday after leaving Royal North Shore Hospital, where he had been treated for multiple fractures, cracked ribs and possible spine damage, and appeared in Manly Local Court on Thursday on four charges of dangerous and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driving while being disqualified. He was bailed to Parramatta Local Court on December 10.