A teenager admitted breaching the terms of his sentence after he went to Romania to attend the funeral of his uncle and aunt who were killed in a car crash.

Eduard Mamai, from Northfleet, had been given a referral order when he was 17 after he admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He had been caught driving a Mercedes Sprinter van in Anthonys Way in Strood, on December 28, 2021.

The now 18-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offences and been given the punishment in a youth court in April 2022.

However, soon after being served with the punishment order, Mamai, of Beaumont Drive, Northfleet, left the country with his parents to visit his home country for the funeral of his relatives.

Mamai was later charged with breaching his order and appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 22, when he admitted the breach.

District Judge Stephen Leake heard Mamai went to Romania without telling the youth offending team until he had arrived in the country.

He was told by the team he had to provide some proof that he was there via his parents, but the team wasn’t contacted again until Mamai returned to Britain.

James Nichols, prosecuting, said: “He was convicted of dangerous driving – that’s why he’s disqualified. The offence was committed two days before his 17th birthday.

“There was initial compliance shown [to the order] but then there was the Romanian trip.”

Wayne Crowhurst, defending, told Judge Leake that Mamai had returned to England in April. He works in the scrap metal business and lives with his parents.

Mr Crowhurst added: “His aunt and uncle were involved in a car accident and he returned to Romania.”

Judge Leake told Mamai even though he was 17 when he committed the offences, he had now turned 18 and he had to sentence him as an adult.

He fined Mamai £80 for the breach offence and re-sentenced him over the driving while disqualified matter and placed him on a 12 month community order which will see him carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

He also disqualified him for six months and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £95. Mamai received no separate penalty for the no insurance offence, but his licence was endorsed.