[shillelagh]

my dad had to make that decision ... age 16 my brother nicked my dads car and smashed it into a brand new rover in the middle of hassy ... my dad went with my brother to court .. he got fined and banned from driving for a year (when he became legal)... and when the judge asked how much spence he got .. my dad knocked 25p off the amount .. my brother had to pay his fine out of his spending money each week my mother went down to the court in rawtenstall and paid it ... my brother got a reduced spending money to pay his fine .. can remember i went once with my mum to pay it .. and she took me into the court .. it was empty ..and to a 9 year old kid it was scary ... and my mum said to me if you ever end up in here you will be in big trouble with me never mind the judge .... this was back in 1970s

that scared me enough never to do something that would see me end up in a court ...

by the way .. the police and judge both said it was my dads fault as well .... seeing as it was my dad that taught him to drive ...