A teenage driver who crashed into the gates of a house in Lower Swanwick left the scene and failed to report it to police because he did not think he needed to, a court heard.
Beau Barnard, 19, was seen on CCTV driving in Swanwick Lane, losing control of the vehicle and crashing into wooden gates and brick pillars at Bush Mug House in Walpole Lane.
Fareham Magistrates Court heard that Barnard, of Burridge Road, Burridge, while driving at 25 miles per hour turned on a sharp bend on Swanwick Lane and hit a puddle which caused him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into the property on October 12.
“He’s made mistakes and he apologises for that and he bitterly regrets it,” said Edward Jackson, defending. “He has accepted responsibility.”
Mr Jackson said Barnard passed his driving test in December 2011, but while learning to drive was not informed of what to do if an accident occurs.
“He and his mother have told me that when learning how to drive he was taught about speed limits and stopping distances, not what to do in an accident,” said Mr Jackson.
Mr Jackson said that he advised Barnard that as part of the law of driving he should have learnt what to do in an accident himself and added: “He accepts that he was lacking experience and he accepts he made an error in judgement. He’s worried he might not be able to get work if he loses his licence.”
Barnard pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on Swanwick Lane without due care and attention, to fail to stop after a road accident and failing to report it.
Mr Jackson said: “As far as the failing to stop and report the accident that had occurred he thought you only had to report it if there was an accident that caused damage or that another vehicle was involved.
“All of the damage was to wooden gates. Mr Barnard went back to see some damage.
“He said if he thought there was damage he would go and repair it himself as a qualified brick layer.”
For failing to stop after an accident Barnard was fined £110 and for driving without due care and attention he was fined £70. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £55 to the Crown Prosecution Service.
His licence was endorsed with five penalty points.