A DRIVER lost control of his car, “careering” down a steep embankment and ending up in a hedge, after he had been drinking in Newtown.

Edward Paul Marston was on his way to stay with a friend in Rhayader when the incident happened on October 8 last year on the A483 near Llanbadarn Fynydd.

Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday, March 30, that one witness who arrived on the scene saw 24-year-old Marston crawling up a bank back onto the road following the crash and that he then ran off, even though the witness advised him to wait for emergency services to arrive. Police officers later tracked Marston to his friend’s address.

Marston admitted drink driving at the hearing – although he insisted his reading was lower than shown on the charge sheet. He also admitted careless driving and failing to stop following a road traffic accident.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said the incident occurred just before 9pm in an area of the A483 known as Camnant, between Llanbadarn and Dolfor.

“A Vauxhall Astra van had collided with chevron road signs, left the road, careered across the road and down a steep embankment, into hedging,” said Mr Challinor.

“No-one was present with the vehicle. There was extensive damage to the vehicle and also property. A motorist arrived, observed lots of debris, which he then moved from the carriageway to make it safe.

“He checked the hedgerow and saw lights and a vehicle. He shouted down then saw a male crawl up the bank. He advised him to wait at the scene but after using a mobile phone he was then seen running away towards Llanbadarn Fynydd."

Mr Challinor said Marston told officers he had drunk some cans of cider to steady his nerves after the incident, leading to his reading being higher than it would have been – although he accepted a drink driving charge on the basis of a lower reading.

The crown accepted a reading of 177 milligrames of alcohol in his urine was most likely accurate, above the legal limit of 107 milligrams.

Huw Williams, representing Marston, of Fairview Lodge, Aston on Clun, Shropshire, said his client had no previous convictions.

He had been working at a construction site in Telford, the court heard, and was employed by construction firm SJ Roberts. He had stopped in Newtown for a "few drinks" on his way to visit a friend in Rhayader.

“He suffered a bloody nose and head and police were concerned about his behaviour and medical condition," Mr Williams said.

“He doesn’t remember a great deal. He thinks he was arranging a song, lost control and went through the hedge.

“The aggravating feature of the accident is that he left the scene. He panicked, he has never done anything wrong before, but he knew he had. He went to his friend’s house and drank two cans of cider.

“There were no passengers. There was low level traffic and no pedestrians. There was no danger to others, but there was a danger to himself. He works hard, he is honest and reliable. He takes it very seriously and is ashamed of what he’s done.”

Chair of the bench, Lorna Jones, told Marston: “You were very fortunate no-one else was on the road. It could have been very different.”

Marston was banned from driving for 16 months, and fined £448 with £85 costs and a £45 surcharge.