Driver who fled scene of accident caught after leaving his sat nav behind showing home address

The Mondeo (Image: Archant)

Andrew Day, 46, crashed his Ford Mondeo into a Ford Fiesta on the A505 at Thriplow on May 30.

The Ford Fiesta (Image: Archant)

He had purchased the Mondeo earlier that day, and was driving it home despite having no licence and insurance.

But with the other driver trapped in the Fiesta, Day climbed into his friend’s minibus, which had been following behind, and made off from the scene.

However, he had left his mobile phone and sat nav, complete with home address, in the vehicle and had also given his details to the owner of the Mondeo when buying the car. Officers from Cambridgeshire Police caught up with Day at his work on June 5.

Day, of Green End, Landbeach, appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 18, and pleaded guilty to driving otherwise in accordance to his licence, driving with no insurance and failing to stop at the scene of a collision. He also admitted a previous driving while disqualified charge.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks, suspended for 12 months, given a 12-month supervision order, ordered to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work, pay £80 victim surcharge and £135 court costs and was banned from applying for a licence for 18 months.

PC Dave Black, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: “It is almost incomprehensible that anyone would leave the scene of a crash where someone is potentially seriously injured. Not only did he fail to stay and admit his culpability, but he then laid low for several days at friends’ houses in a bid to avoid being arrested.

“He was clearly only thinking of himself and had no empathy for the victim.

“The other driver is still off work recovering from his injuries and I have no doubt that Day’s actions will continue to affect him for some time.

“Fortunately, we were able to track Day down and put him before the court. He now faces being jailed if he commits any further offences in the next 12 months.”