A MOTORIST who ran away after smashing into a telegraph pole in Littleport has been banned from driving for six months. Stephen Neal had lost control of his MG Z5 in Ely Road, the telegraph pole was snapped in half, and he damaged a nearby fence. Police

A MOTORIST who ran away after smashing into a telegraph pole in Littleport has been banned from driving for six months.

Stephen Neal had lost control of his MG Z5 in Ely Road, the telegraph pole was snapped in half, and he damaged a nearby fence.

"Police arrived at the scene to find an MG Z5 with extensive damage on the front offside, the car had collided with a fence and a telegraph pole," city magistrates were told by prosecutor Laura Mardell.

"A member of the public said three people got out of the car, and ran from the scene in different directions. The keys were still in the ignition, and the car was left insecure.

"The vehicle was seized by officers and the registered keeper was traced."

Neal, 22, of High Barns, Ely, admitted failing to stop after the accident on April 4. He told police he had swerved to avoid two youths wearing dark clothing and walking at the side of the road. He accepted he made no effort to speak to the owner of the property and give his details.

The self employed roofer already had seven points on his driving licence for earlier offences of careless driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Asking the court not to disqualify him from driving, Neal told the court: "My life is in a bit of a mess at the moment, and that would make it a whole lot worse. "I owe more than �2,000, and cannot afford to pay everything off."

Neal was also fined �100, with �35 costs and a �15 surcharge.