An uninsured driver who caused more than £13,000 worth of damage to a Swindon bus stop in a crash pleaded with magistrates not to send him to jail.

Jacob Wyness, 23, from Markenfield, Toothill, had previously pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident and driving without insurance.

It followed an incident on May 11 where a BMW driven by the young dad flipped onto its roof and completely destroyed a bus stop in Dunwich Drive, before he then left the scene. 

Nobody was hurt during the incident but Wyness, appearing in court for his sentencing at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Monday, June 17, admitted things could have been worse.

To which the unimpressed magistrate responded: "Yes, it could have been a lot worse for people at the bus stop, you could have killed someone."

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The court also heard how Swindon Borough Council had been left with a bill for £13,951.69 to replace the demolished structure. 

Wyness was subsequently banned from driving for six months and made to pay costs of £300 towards the council's excess for an insurance claim on top of other court costs. 

(Image: Newsquest) Wyness was not represented and addressed the magistrates himself.

"I’m truly sorry about the situation, it was very stupid, I know it was reckless," he said.

He told the court that he had not been driving for any particular reason, but had been arguing while cleaning his car and decided to drive it knowing he was unlicensed and it had been taken off the road.

When asked why he fled he said: “There were loads of people, I was in shock, I was scared, I just walked away, know I shouldn’t have."

A pre-sentence report had been drawn up recommending a community order, and when asked if he agreed with that, a clearly remorseful Wyness replied: "Yes I agree with all of it, anything to not go to jail. I would hate to go to jail."

When delivering their verdict, magistrates said: “We’re not sending you to prison, just to reassure you because you don’t have the pattern of that offending, but that does not mean this was not a serious matter."

On top of the driving ban and fine, Wyness was ordered to complete an 18-month community order, involving participating in an apprentice programme and rehabilitation requirement days, and 200 hours of unpaid work.