Drunk driver with no licence who crashed through 'No Entry' sign banned from roads

Ionut Zapototchi was at the wheel of a VW Passat which careered out of Bath Street, Chapel Ash and ploughed into a passing Toyota Corolla travelling along Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 28-year-old - who had only arrived in the country months earlier and had neither insurance nor a driving licence - tried to flee on foot after the crash that left a passenger in the Corolla with neck pain and suffering from shock.

But he was soon caught by bystanders who had seen the accident and frogmarched him back to the scene where he was arrested by police investigating the accident that happened at 6.45pm on April 18.

A test revealed that Zapototchi had an alcohol reading of 44 microgrammes in every 100 millilitres of breath, disclosed Mr Hugh Williams, prosecuting. The legal limit is 35.

Mr Patrick Currie, defending, said the car had been delivered to Wolverhampton for a friend and Zapototchi had only driven it a short distance when the crash occurred. The lawyer added: "He does not drink regularly and was not massively over the limit.This was just a piece of bad judgement on his part."

Zapototchi from Leicester Street, Whitmore Reans admitted drink driving, dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident and having no insurance or driving licence.

He is not claiming benefits and hopes to launch his own recruitment business, the court heard.

He was given a 10 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 100 hours of unpaid work, £380 costs and an 18 month driving ban.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told him: "You aggravated the situation by trying to run away."