A PENSIONER who drank-drove then sped off after colliding with a woman's car, was banned from driving.

Police received a call from a woman, reporting a male, driving a Skoda, Nigel Glyndore Wilbee, had just crashed into her Mini Cooper and he had smelt of alcohol, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

Wilbee, 77, admitted drink-driving and failing to stop after a road accident, causing damage, on St Michael's Avenue, Ryde, on the afternoon of January 20.

He later blew an alcohol reading of 61 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35.

Wilbee, of St Mary's Close, Ryde, first tried to get into a shop car park, hit a wall, then reversed into the Mini owner's car, explained Miss Miller.

"When someone called the police, he drove off. When police found him, he tested positive for alcohol," she said.

For Wilbee, Keith Verrinder said his client had been at home and had a drink, but "not a vast amount" and thought he was fit to drive to the shop.

"He knew there had been a close call with regards to the lady's car, but he didn't think he had caused any damage," explained Mr Verrinder.

"The woman stuck her head through the open window of his car, which rather spooked him — that in these Covid days, she was getting too close to him.

"So because he didn't think he had caused any damage, but concerned about how close she was to him, he decided to drive off and go home.

"He said he had a bit more to drink when he got home."

Wilbee was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £460, with £85 costs and a £46 victim surcharge.