A FARM worker’s Toyota Landcruiser careered off the road, hit two cars in a pub car park, and ended up on its side.
The driver, Edward Humphrey White, 46, was helped out of the vehicle by customers at the Pwllgwyn pub at Afonwen.
White, said by a witness to be smelling of alcohol, left the scene and later reported his vehicle stolen.
But the following day he went to the police station and admitted he had been driving at the time.
White, of Barlows Caravan Park in Caerwys, yesterday admitted failing to stop and failing to report the accident on November 16.
Prosecutor Matthew Ellis said White had a previous conviction for drink driving and said it was an aggravating feature that he had left the scene which had prevented the police from carrying out the breathtest procedure.
A charge of careless driving was dropped by the prosecution when it was accepted there was no evidence to counter White’s claim he had been dazzled by an on-coming vehicle and lost control in wet conditions.
White, who said he had consumed two pints while watching the rugby on television at a Caerwys pub several hours earlier, was fined a total of £100 with £105 costs and seven penalty points were imposed on his licence.
Flintshire Magistrates Court at Mold was told the Landcruiser left the road, struck some roadside furniture and hit two parked cars in the pub car park.
The vehicle ended up on its side and the duty manager assisted him out of the vehicle.
Interviewed, he said he was dazzled by another vehicle and lost control as he drove towards Mold at Afonwen.
He could not provide a reason for leaving the scene other than he was dazed.
Stephen Mullarkey, defending, said that afternoon White had two pints while watching rugby, took the view he was fit to drive, and drove to Denbigh.
The accident happened at The Pwllgwyn pub in Afonwen after 10.30pm and he stressed the prosecution had no evidence to counter his explanation about the crash – that he had been dazzled.
He was wrong to leave the scene but after the crash various people approached and one was said to be swearing.
White panicked and left the scene. He then did another stupid thing by reporting the vehicle stolen.
But the matter was put right the following day when he attended the police station and explained what had happened.
White, he said, was an agricultural labourer in the local community but there was less work available in winter.
He had a clean driving licence.