A SUTTON mum who collided with a friend s car around midnight had intended to spill the beans about the accident the next morning. But within minutes the police were informed about the incident, and officers put a note through her door. It was late at ni

A SUTTON mum who collided with a friend's car around midnight had intended to spill the beans about the accident the next morning.

But within minutes the police were informed about the incident, and officers put a note through her door.

"It was late at night and my friend's child suffers with asthma, so I did not want to knock on her door so late at night," Nicola Blakeley explained to Ely magistrates on Thursday.

Blakeley, 26, of St Andrew's Close, admitted careless driving and failing to report the accident to police.

Prosecutor Fred Sagoe told how Blakeley was driving a Fiat Punto near her home at 11.47pm on October 22 last year, when she attempted to reverse, and collided with a yellow MG ZR car.

The MG car suffered a scuff mark on the bumper; and Blakeley's car suffered damage near a back wheel.

"She failed to report the incident to the police as soon as reasonably practicable," he said. "Police were called to the scene at 12.12am."

Blakeley told magistrates she had contacted the police after receiving their letter.

"I was manoeuvring my car when my foot slipped off the clutch," she explained. "There was a scratch to the other car, but my friend did not want to claim on her insurance."

After reading a letter from the owner of the car hit by Blakeley, presiding magistrate Janet South said: "We have read the letter, but according to the law you did commit an offence."

Blakeley was given a six-month conditional discharge and five points were endorsed on her licence.