We did think about sending you to prison’

A BANNED driver who reported himself to the police after crashing into a ditch narrowly escaped jail this week.

Haydn Robins - who had three previous convictions for driving while disqualified - was given a 200-hour work order instead.

Presiding magistrate Susan Thompson told Robins: "We did think very seriously about sending you to prison.

"But we have noted and given you credit for the fact that it was you who contacted the police following the accident, and that if you had not done so, the chances are that you would not have been here today on this charge."

The court heard how Robins crashed a T-registered Vauxhall Vectra on the A142 at Witchford in the early hours of September 29.

"He told the police he had been drinking and had driven a car and crashed it," Ely magistrates heard from prosecutor Yetunde Fawehinmi.

"He said he had applied his brakes, the car had spun and he landed in a ditch. He was given a lift by a passing taxi and then called the police."

Back at the crash scene, Robins failed a roadside breath test, she added. He admitted having drunk three pints of lager, and being a disqualified driver.

Robins, of Saffron Piece, Sutton, had admitted driving when disqualified. He was banned from driving back in 2005 for three years, for an offence of drink-driving and driving while disqualified.

"He was involved in a single vehicle accident, no one else was involved," explained solicitor Jacqui Baldwin.

"Had he not contacted the police, the offence may not have come to light, because he was a disqualified driver."

Robins will be supervised by the probation service for the next 18 months; he must take part in a Think First course and pay £75 costs. The magistrates did not extend his driving ban, but put six points on his licence, and urged him to refer himself to Drinksense.