Jurors acquit Santa man of danger charge

The self-employed builder, of Station Close, Newnham Bridge, Tenbury Wells, was yesterday cleared by a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

However, he had previously admitted driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident and driving without insurance.

The court heard Williams was in full fancy dress with boots and a beard for a charity walk in memory of his girlfriend's father, who had committed suicide, when the incident happened.

He and his girlfriend were going to visit his sister following the walk on December 13 last year, when he drove into the back of a parked car in Larks Rise, Cleobury Mortimer, the court heard.

Williams said he had been distracted by his mobile phone lighting up in the dark, had looked down and then up and then hit a Citroen belonging to Karen Jones. In a police interview, Williams said he panicked because he did not have insurance.

The builder said: "It was 50-50 whether I went or stayed."

Williams said he felt "a bit of an idiot" in the Father Christmas outfit and drove away.

He said his insurance had lapsed several weeks before and he had not had the money to renew it.

He said he was ashamed of his actions and described them as stupid.

But he denied that Richard Forrester, who witnessed the crash, and Mrs Jones had had to jump out of the way of his car and that he had missed hitting Mrs Jones by only a few feet as he drove off.

Judge Nicolas Mitchell endorsed Williams' licence with eight penalty points and he was ordered to pay £500 in costs, compensation and fines.