A lorry driver who hit two parked cars and drove off without stopping has been fined £1,000.

Matthew James Lamberton, of Ramsey Road, Laxey, admitted failing to report an accident, failing to stop after an accident, and careless driving.

Magistrates fined him £250 for each of the first two offences and £500 for the third.

The 40-year-old’s licence was also endorsed with seven points and he was ordered to pay £300 compensation to one of the car owners who had paid that amount in respect of the excess on their insurance policy.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court how Lamberton was driving his lorry on August 24 at 7.30am when he hit a Vauxhall Corsa and a Land Rover Discovery, which were parked on Pinfold Hill in Laxey.

Both vehicles were said to have been written off. However, Lamberton didn’t stop.

A witness also reported being nearly knocked off the pavement by a large red wagon and said that the driver appeared to be trying to wipe a misted windscreen.

No-one witnessed the collision with the two cars but a witness reported hearing a large vehicle pulling away and Lamberton’s lorry was found to have damage consistent with crashing into the two vehicles.

When interviewed Lamberton admitted he would have been driving his lorry at Pinfold Hill at the time but said he could not recall any collision. He said that, due to the size of his lorry, he may have hit something without knowing but added that he would have stopped if he had knowingly had an accident.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said that Lamberton was reiterating his account that he did not realise he had hit any vehicles.

Mr Glover said that his client had a clean driving licence and asked for credit to be given for his guilty pleas.

Magistrates chair David Craine told Lamberton: ’Hearing both vehicles were written off makes it a little hard to believe you didn’t notice you had hit them.’

Lamberton was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs and he will pay all amounts at a rate of £100 per month.