Driver claimed he drank seven cans of lager after crash

Craig Jones drove his Rover MG into the motorcycle in Canal Road, Newtown, before leaving the scene and going home.

He returned and handed himself in to police shortly afterwards –and was found to be more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

But Jones initially told officers he had drunk lager since the accident and had not been under the influence at the time of the collision.

Welshpool Magistrates Court was told Jones had initially checked to see if the motorcyclist was hurt and said he was just moving his car, but then drove off. The motorcyclist was tended to by paramedics but only suffered a bruised foot, the court was told.

Jones, 28, of Hillside, Newtown, admitted drink driving, failing to stop after an accident and driving without due care and attention. He was banned from driving for 20 months, fined £110 for drink driving and a further £70 for failing to stop.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £85 costs.

Mrs Helen Tench, prosecuting, said police were called at about 6pm on December 1 following a report of the collision.

She said: "The driver of the car, who is the defendant, got out, asked the motorcyclist if he was okay, said he was moving his car and he would be back in a moment, only he did not return. Witness Ffion Pugh said she heard a loud bang before seeing a motorcycle rider somersaulting through the air and she called the ambulance.

"Not long after the police arrived at the scene, Jones came back and handed himself in to officers, but told them he had drunk between three and seven cans of lager in the last 20 minutes and had not been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He was breathalysed and gave a reading of 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35."

Mr Robert Hanratty, for Jones, said his client was very apologetic and although he had left the scene and had a drink due to shock, he had returned and handed himself in.