A MOTORIST who drove off after colliding with a parked car in a pub car park has appeared in court.

Stephen Walker, 49, of Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, struck a VW Golf in The White Horse car park, in Harrowgate Hill, Darlington, damaging a front door and smashing a window.

Darlington Magistrates’ Court heard Walker heard a crunching noise, but thought the impact was his car crushing a bottle.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, said Walker was dropping a friend off at the pub when his Vauxhall Astra collided with the vehicle, but drove away without reporting the incident.

Michael Clarke, mitigating, said Walker, who pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and failing to stop at the scene of an accident, was sorry for his mistake.

Mr Clarke asked Walker to be spared a driving ban as he suffers from a number of disability issues and relied on his car to get around town.

He said: “He did take his friend to the pub but the man had an argument with his partner, so Mr Walker took him away.

“While manoeuvering out of the car park he struck the Golf, he heard a crunching sound but thought he had gone over a bottle.

“He has had a clean driving licence for 30 years and relies on it because he cannot walk far, and is sorry for not dealing with the matter at the time.”

Magistrates handed Walker five penalty points on his licence and gave him an £87 fine.