A DRIVER appeared in court after twice crashing into the same car — then telling police his car had been stolen.

James Baker, 25, appeared before Isle of Wight Magistrates on August 20 where he admitted three charges — driving without due care and attention, failing to report an accident, and failing to stop at an accident.

The court heard Baker was driving his Renault Clio at Newport Road, Cowes, at around 9.30am on July 25 when he crashed into the back of a Volkswagen Polo as he rounded a bend near the Kingston Arms pub.

The driver of the Polo jumped out — only to watch Baker reverse and crash into his car a second time as he drove away.

Ann Smout, prosecuting, said the Polo driver believed Baker, who has a previous conviction for drink driving, was drunk at the time of the incident.

"Baker told police he had just arrived on the Island and his car had been stolen," she said.

"When police confronted him the following morning, he told them he was in shock and could not remember the events of the previous evening."

The court heard Baker had arrived on the Island on the day of the incident and afterwards was unable to remember where he had left his car, leading him to tell police it had been stolen.

Barry Arnett, defending, said: "He tells me he felt he was doing the right thing.

"He tells me he only had a couple of drinks before he went out to explore the Island.

"When he went back to try and find his car, he couldn't remember where he had left it — so he had told police it had been stolen."

Baker, of Tennyson Road, Yarmouth, was banned from driving for nine months, given a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £75 surcharge.