A MILLOM man has been jailed and banned from driving after crashing into a stone wall and leaving the car in a dangerous position on a main road.

Martin Gott, 21, of Grammerscroft, Millom, appeared at Furness Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court that witnesses reported being overtaken by two cars on the A595 in Hallthwaites, heading towards Millom, on June 6, 2015.

One of the cars, a silver Ford Focus, was later seen crashed into a dry stone wall and left in a dangerous position. Mr Kelly described how the car had spun three times before colliding with and causing damage to a farmer’s dry stone wall.

Gott had only purchased the car the previous Friday, the court heard.

The court was told how after crashing the car Gott had got out of the Focus and into another car.

After failing to report the accident he was said to have gone missing for 48 hours. He later appeared at the police station indicating that he wanted to be interviewed on the matter but denied that there was another vehicle. Witnesses described the car as being left on a bad bend after the collision.

Mr Kelly said: “He admitted that he did not slow down even though he knew it was a bad bend and he didn’t have both hands on the steering wheel at the time of the crash.

“But he does accept that he left the car in a dangerous place and failed to slow down. He also gave a guilty plea at the first opportunity.”

Presiding magistrate, Catherine Alexander, said: “In these circumstances there was clearly evidence of bad driving and there was a real risk of serious harm to other road users.”

Gott had admitted driving without due care and attention and causing a vehicle to remain in such a position on a road as to involve a danger of injury to other road users, at an earlier hearing. He had also admitted failing to stop and report an accident.

Gott was given a 12-week prison sentence and a 12-month driving ban. He must pay an £80 victim surcharge and £150 criminal court costs.