MOTORIST Tony Everett offered £500 to the owner of a parked car he hit late at night – and then drove off when told that police were being called. He later told officers he was afraid of being mugged at the scene, and had drunk just one can of lager befor

MOTORIST Tony Everett offered £500 to the owner of a parked car he hit late at night - and then drove off when told that police were being called.

He later told officers he was afraid of being mugged at the scene, and had drunk just one can of lager before the accident.

Appearing before Ely magistrates on Thursday, 50-year-old Everett, of Church Court, Soham, admitted failing to stop, and failing to report the incident in Fordham on September 8 last year.

Jody Brown was sitting in his parked car with friends in Cockpen Road just before 10pm when Everett hit his Honda Civic, said prosecutor Angela Sassoli.

"He looked over his right shoulder and saw car lights approaching from the south," she said. "As the vehicle passed him, he felt a collision with the front of his car.

"He realised the car was not going to stop, and he pulled out and followed it, taking down the registration number."

Everett stopped further along the road, and when approached by Mr Brown, he offered him the cash.

Hearing that police were on their way, Everett got in his car and drove off. Mr Brown tried to follow, but lost him.

During an interview with police, Everett said the accident happened as he took a short cut home from Burwell.

"It was pitch black and I did not see a car," he said. "A car flashed its lights and I stopped, The driver said I had hit his car, and his friends got out.

"I thought they might mug me, he had four mates, so I left." Everett claimed to have waited for the police for half an hour, but police records show they arrived within nine minutes of the call.

He said offering the cash to Mr Brown was "a daft thing to do".

Everett was fined £500, with £60 costs and a £15 surcharge, and six points were endorsed on his licence.