A DRIVER who only possessed an expired provisional licence when he smashed into a parked car and drove off without reporting the collision has been banned from the road.

Skipton magistrates were told Arran Wright, 23, of Aire view, Silsden, was driving a Ford Transit van in Keighley Road, Skipton, on July 30 this year when he hit a car belonging to a Mr Mahmood. It was parked in the Fleece pub car park while Mr Mahmood delivered a takeaway.

Prosecuting, Nadine Clough said CTV footage showed Wright reversing the vehicle he was driving, into the car. She said the force was so great the car rocked and it left the front bumper hanging off and scratches to the paintwork.

The police were called and it was discovered Wright was not licensed to drive.

Wright admitted three charges of driving other than in accordance with a licence, using a vehicle without third party insurance and failing to stop after a road accident.

Defending, Keith Blackwell told the bench his client was remorseful about the incident and had contacted the car owner since and paid the repair bill out of his own pocket.

Mr Blackwell said Wright, who had a partner who did not work and a young child, had just started to operate as a self employed tree surgeon and accepted he had 'shot himself through the foot' with his actions as he needed a vehicle for the purpose of doing his job.

He said the van belonged to someone else and assumed there was insurance cover.

Mr Blackwell added that his client had claimed he did not know he had hit the car but accepted by his plea that he should have known about the collision.

"He deeply regrets what happened," said Mr Blackwell.

Magistrates banned Wright from driving for six months for driving without insurance.

They fined him £346 and ordered him to pay a surcharge of £35 and court costs of £85.

They made no separate penalty for the licence and failure to stop offences but his licence would be endorsed when he applied for it.