A BUILDER who crashed his Ford Transit van into a garden wall and fled the scene told Isle of Wight magistrates he was "tired, stressed and panic-stricken," because he thought his mother would die. 

Jonathan Easlea will learn if he is to be jailed or not next month (July), after he admitted being the driver of a vehicle involved in a road accident and failing to report it, on the A3056 Newport Road, Apse Heath, on March 31.

The 53-year-old, of The Fairway, Lake, also admitted driving without due care and attention.

Easlea had collided with and destroyed a garden wall, then drove off — later telling the police he fled the scene out of shock, tiredness and the stress of his mother being rushed into hospital, said Liz Miller, prosecuting.

Unrepresented, Easlea said he had been a carer for his mother, with heart problems.

"She then got rushed into hospital. I thought she was going to die," said Easlea.

"I was shocked after the accident and panic set in. I was beside myself. I wasn't thinking straight."

When asked by magistrates why he had not been in contact with the owner of the damaged property after the accident, Easlea had no answer.

Magistrates ordered a report on Easlea, and bailed him to reappear for sentencing at the same venue, on July 11.