A ‘RECKLESS’ drink driver who failed to stop at the scene of a collision in North Dorset has been banned from the road for three years.

Richard Mark Vass, 32, was sentenced after being found guilty of offences of failing to stop after a collision and drink driving at a trial at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

In the early hours of July 6 police were called to reports of a single vehicle collision on Kings Road in Gillingham. It was reported a car had hit the kerb and caused damage to gardens and properties as well colliding with a telegraph pole.

When officers arrived at the scene they found a badly damaged black Land Rover, registered to Vass. They also spoke to a passenger who had been in the vehicle and it was established that the driver had left the scene.

Following searches of the area, officers located and arrested Vass in Shaftesbury Road.

His passenger reported that they had both been drinking at a pub in Shaftesbury before getting in Vass’ car and he had been driving around the area at speeds above 80mph. At one point he released his passenger’s seatbelt when they asked him to slow down. Vass and his passenger were taken to hospital to be checked over but they did not sustain any serious injuries.

A urine sample was obtained from Vass while he was at hospital and was found to contain 161 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. The legal limit is 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine.

Inspector Simon Perry, of North Dorset police, said: “Richard Vass took the reckless decision to get behind the wheel of a car while he was under the influence of alcohol and the extent of the damage sustained by his vehicle shows he was subsequently involved in a high speed collision.”

Insp Perry said Vass and his passenger only avoided more serious injuries through “good fortune”.

Vass, of Batchelor Way, Downton, Wiltshire, was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £1,200 in costs as well as being disqualified from driving for three years.