A ROOFER who caused hundeds of pounds worth of damage to safety railings at a marina on the Isle of Wight — then drove off without reporting it — learned his fate when he appeared before magistrates.

Neil Mouland, of no fixed address, admitted, at a previous hearing, driving without due care and attention and failing to report an accident, at Kingston Road, East Cowes, on June 25.

The 37-year-old was back at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court last Friday (16) to be sentenced after the bench considered a report on him.

Police responded to a report of a car accident from the marina's manager, who said railings on the water's edge were badly damaged by the driver of a Skoda Fabia car, which was captured on CCTV.

The footage showed Mouland exit his car, look around the vehicle, then he got back into it and drove off, the court was told.

Police confirmed Mouland had not reported the accident to the police within a statutory time limit.

The cost of reinstating the railings — a safety feature for pedestrians and boat users — was £2,000, with a section of them 'uprooted' and bent metal remaining.

The dad-of-three had been having a bad year — losing his roofing business, the breakdown in a long-standing relationship and having to live in his car — said his solicitor, Henry Farley.

Mouland, previously of Woods Drive, Newchurch, had 19 previous convictions for 36 offences, which included drink and drug driving in 2018.

Magistrates fined Mouland £100 and made him subject to a nine-month probation order, which included up to 20 rehabilitation sessions.

Mouland was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.