A CHEF crashed his car through a fence and into a field — then fled the scene.

Jacob Grimaldi, 28, of Upton Road, Ryde, later went to Newport Police Station to admit what he had done, the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court heard on Friday.

He was charged with criminal damage to the fence, which he admitted.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said the incident happened in the very early hours, around 12.38am, on June 24, near The Garlic Farm.

Police had spotted Grimaldi's vehicle near the farm, then lost sight of it. They later located it in a field off Rowlands Lane and no one was in it.

Grimaldi turned up voluntarily at the police station later that day, saying he had panicked.

The Crown Prosecution Service had received no claim for the damaged fence and didn't know the value of the damage.

Grimaldi was unrepresented in court.

He was fined £238, with £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.