Carlisle waitress took hotel guest’s car as he slept in bar

A Carlisle waitress admitted taking a Range Rover from a hotel car park as its owner slept in the bar.

Deanne Ferguson, 18, of Oakleigh Way, Broadoaks, admitted taking a car without the owner’s consent, driving without a licence and driving without insurance at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the owner of the car, Mr Phillip Ratray, was staying at the Cumbria Park Hotel on June 6.

He parked his Range Rover behind the hotel and headed out into the city for a drink.

He returned to the hotel and fell asleep in the bar.

When Mr Ratray awoke the next morning and returned to his room, he discovered a black handbag, bottle of vodka and a pizza box on the floor.

He then found the Range Rover had gone and called police.

Mrs Ward said Ferguson had gone to the Cumbria Park Hotel with a woman she had met in Terminal One nightclub. The woman claimed a man she said was her uncle had given her a room card to the hotel.

At about 5am, Ferguson and the woman approached the night porter at the Cumbria Park Hotel who let them into Mr Ratray’s hotel room.

They then took the keys to the Range Rover. Ferguson drove to collect a third woman and they headed to Burger King.

On returning to the hotel car park, they noticed a police car at the hotel and fled.

Anita Leaker, defending, said: “This is an unusual case. She did not go to the hotel room with the intention of taking a car.”

Magistrates ordered Ferguson to undertake 60 hours of community service and pay £43 court costs. She will also have six points added to her provisional licence.