Driver fled after car ploughed into hedge

A forestry worker fled the scene after leaving his car fully embedded in a hedgerow after losing control and spinning off the road.

James Watt faces being banned after he admitted failing to stay at the scene and report his details in the wake of the early morning crash.

Perth Sheriff Court was told yesterday that Watt initially asked a passerby to help but changed his mind and disappeared from the scene.

Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr told the court: “At 4.45am a witness arrived to work and noticed a vehicle entirely embedded within the hedgerow.

“It had damaged a car’s length of the hedgerow. He saw the accused, who asked him for assistance in removing the vehicle from the hedge.

“The witness heard a second male shouting to the accused, advising him not to ask for help. The witness telephoned the police and did not see the accused again.”

A police dog was sent to the area and CCTV footage was reviewed but no trace of the accused was found. He was traced later at his home.”

Watt, 24, of Marshall Gardens, Luncarty, admitted failing to give his details after colliding with the hedge near his home on November 1 last year.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “He currently works in forestry. He is required to be able to drive for that. It was an early November morning and by his account the road was slippy.

“The vehicle hit a patch of ice and went into the hedge. He made the wrong decision to leave, but the vehicle was registered in his name and he lived locally.”

Sheriff Derek Reekie imposed six points which gives Watt 12 in total and eligible for disqualification. A date was fixed for Watt to argue that he should not be banned because it would cause him exceptional hardship. He was fined £300.