A PORT authority worker, who at first denied damaging a car in the Safeway car park in Stokesley last summer, was fined £275 yesterday.

Mark Hill, of the town's Meadowfield, pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Richmond magistrates were told that he hit a Citroen Saxo as he squeezed his four-wheel drive into a tight space outside the supermarket.

He failed to leave any details and was only traced after a witness passed his car's registration number to the Saxo owner.

Yesterday, 34-year-old Hill claimed he had not stopped as he did not realise the extent of the damage to the other vehicle.

He knew he had knocked one of the wing mirrors and had straightened it after getting out of his car, but had not noticed any dents in the Saxo's bodywork.

As well as the fine, Hill was ordered to pay court costs of £120 and compensation of £100 to the Saxo owner. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

An additional charge of failing to report an accident was withdrawn at the request of the prosecution.