A provisional licence holder struck a stationary car during an unofficial night-time driving lesson in Penrith before leaving the scene, a court heard.
Details of a collision caused by 39-year-old Andrew Hall were outlined in his absence as the case came before Carlisle magistrates.
Prosecutor Pam Ward said the owner of a Jaguar left it parked in a bay at Elm Terrace on the late afternoon of April 1. Two days later, he returned and found it was damaged. “There was a severe mark on the passenger side rear bumper and a broken rear light on the same side,” said Mrs Ward. It looked as though something had “scraped down the side”.
Two notes had been left on the vehicle: one from a witness who saw the “guys who had done this”; and a police incident number. Photographs captured the damage.
A police officer described seeing a maroon Vauxhall Zafira just before midnight on April 2.
He immediately recognised a thin male who got out of the driver’s side of the Vauxhall as Hall. A passenger identified himself as the owner of a vehicle which had struck the Jaguar.
The PC reported: “The driver informed us the Zafira had collided with the stationary Jaguar on Elm Terrace without stopping.”
When interviewed, Hall said he was having a driving lesson from his neighbour but shouldn’t have been because it was dark, and stated he hadn’t been behind the wheel of a vehicle for a long time.
A provisional licence holder, he hadn’t reacted quickly enough and clipped another car before driving off. Valid insurance cover for his use of the vehicle “could not be established”, the court heard.
Hall, of Prince Charles Close, Penrith, was charged with driving without due care and attention, no insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and failing to stop after an accident.
He did not attend court. But after hearing evidence contained within statements provided by witnesses and police, magistrates found the case against him proved.
Lead magistrate Chris Drouet concluded the events were “serious” and added: “We would be looking at a possible disqualification so we would require his attendance.”
Sentencing was adjourned for Hall to attend a further court hearing which was fixed for later this month.
