An Isle of Wight drink and drug driver, who crashed his car near his house before fleeing home, pretended to be shocked when police told him about it.

Michael Knight, of East Cowes Road in East Cowes, attended the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Friday, August 23.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road accident, drug driving, drink driving and driving without insurance.

Lauren Stone, prosecuting, said police were informed of a two-vehicle collision involving a black Ford Focus at around 6pm on March 2 on East Cowes Road.

Ms Stone said witnesses saw the Ford collide with a telegraph pole and then a parked car, suffering major front-end damage, and watched as two males fled the scene.

Police attended Knight’s address, and, on arrival, he denied involvement, pretending to be shocked that his vehicle had been taken and crashed, said Ms Stone.

The court heard that other people in the house told police he had been out driving, and Knight was arrested.

Knight was found to be over the drink and drug drive limits and had no third-party insurance.

Ms Stone told magistrates that Knight later confessed to being the driver, telling police he was scared, which is why he ran away and denied it.

Knight was subject to a community order at the time. 

Jim Osborne, defending, asked magistrates to consider ordering a pre-sentence report.

Magistrates agreed and granted Knight unconditional bail ahead of sentencing on November 1.

Knight was handed an interim driving disqualification.