Motorist is banned after fleeing crash

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard how Mark Briddon, 22, of Chesterfield Road, Matlock, crossed the junction at Lime Tree Road, Matlock Green, Matlock, and collided with a Fiat and a passenger in this vehicle suffered whiplash.

Prosecuting solicitor Sarah Haslam said: “There was a collision at a junction of a crossroads.

“The defendant was driving along Lime Tree Road and didn’t stop at a junction and went into the line of the traffic and collided with a black vehicle going towards Tansley and he failed to stop.

“Briddon was found in Matlock Green a short time later.”

Briddon originally denied to police that he had been involved in the collision but later pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, causing damage as a driver and failing to stop, driving without due care and attention and failing to report an accident after the incident in June.

Defence solicitor Julie Page said: “He has not covered himself in glory after the incident with his initial reaction to police but common sense prevailed and he has pleaded guilty.

“He is the registered user of the vehicle but his father uses it and he came home and it was time for the defendant’s partner to be collected from work but his father is not well so the defendant goes.

“He misjudged the junction and thought it was a clear carriageway and he thought one of the moving cars was a parked car.”

Magistrates fined Briddon £110 and ordered that he pay a £25 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months after his licence which already had nine points was endorsed with a further eight points.