A BURNHAM-on-Sea man who was involved in a collision with another car and fled the scene leaving the other driver lying injured has been allowed to continue driving.

Scott Anthony Buckley was driving on the B3139 at Wells after watching Burnham Carnival when he was involved in a crash, but when police were called to the scene he had gone.

Firefighters and paramedics had already arrived and were providing medical treatment to the other driver when the officers turned up.

They said the defendant had walked off on foot from the scene and the police were then approached by a witness who said he had just picked up a man called Scott, who was covered in mud, and said he had just crashed a car after drinking.

The male said Buckley had offered him £20 not to tell anybody, and the following day he handed himself in to the police, Somerset Magistrates were told.

The 26-year-old defendant, of Wallace Wells Road, pleaded guilty to driving a Seat Leon without due care and attention on the B3139 at Wells on November 5 when he appeared in court at Yeovil.

He also admitted being the driver of a Seat Leon which was involved in an accident with a Skoda Fabia and he failed to stop.

A third allegation of failing to report the accident to the police was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that the police were informed of a two vehicle collision on the B3139 at Wells at 9.20pm and when they arrived paramedics and firefighters were already at the scene.

“One of the firefighters said the driver of the Seat vehicle had made off on foot and they did not know where he was,” she said.

“The other driver was receiving medical treatment and the police found paperwork inside the other car relating to Buckley.

“They were then approached by a witness who said he had picked up a man called Scott who had just crashed his car and offered him £20 not to tell anybody.”

The following day the defendant attended Wells police station and said he was the driver involved in the collision saying he had been to Burnham carnival and then planned to drive to his mother’s house in Wells.

“He said he went around a corner near The Pheasant pub in Wookey and over-steered causing the collision,” said Miss Lenanton.

“He was scared of repercussions but said he couldn’t really remember why he left the scene and said he thought he had drunk three bottles of Thatchers cider during the evening.”

The driver of the other car, James O’Connor, made a victim impact statement saying he had felt “helpless” at the time of the crash as he was unable to take evasive action.

“I was deeply shocked at the complete disregard that someone could drive like that and realised I needed saving and then ran way,” he said.

“I am mentally scarred by the accident but did not suffer any long term injuries, although I was taken to hospital for treatment and was very sore for a few days afterwards.”

Defending solicitor Neil Priest said that Buckley, who worked as an arborist, knew he had been “an idiot” although said that he disappeared from the scene through his anxiety about the implications of the accident.

“He took to his feet, however quickly realised his obligations and what he had done and surrendered himself to the police station the next morning,” he said.

“He was driving his car which was on finance, and that has now been lost, so he is continuing to pay the money on a car he no longer owns and has also had to buy another vehicle.”

He added that his client was the only driver in his household and pleaded for penalty points to be imposed on his licence instead of a disqualification as his family would suffer considerably.

For failing to stop after the accident the magistrates sentenced Buckley to a 12 month community order with 140 hours unpaid work and endorsed his licence with nine penalty points.

They fined him £220 for the careless driving offence and ordered him to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.