A 29-year-old woman has been fined £1,000 after crashing her car with it ending up on its roof at West Baldwin.

Leigh Hannah Stedman, of Sunnybank Lane, Douglas, left the scene after arranging for her boss’s son to remove the car.

She said that a rabbit had ran out in front of her causing her to crash.

She admitted careless driving and failing to report a road traffic accident and was fined £500 for each offence by magistrates. Her licence was also endorsed with seven penalty points.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court how, on March 19 at 7.55pm, a member of the public reported seeing a black Volkswagen on its roof at West Baldwin.

The witness said a man, said to be Stedman’s boyfriend, was stood at the scene and said he was OK. Stedman was then seen crawling out of the car’s window.

Stedman arranged for the car to be moved but didn’t report the accident until 17 hours later.

She told police a rabbit had jumped out causing her to swerve while she was driving to Strang Stores.

She said that someone had been taking her to hospital but she then felt alright and decided not to go.

Defence advocate Matthew Wilshaw said that this was his client’s first ever offence.

’Ms Stedman swerved to avoid the rabbit, lost control, and the car ended up on its roof.

’It was a momentary lapse of concentration and I would submit, not the most serious driving without due care offence.

Regarding the failure to report Mr Wilshaw said that Stedman had reported the accident after 17 hours but accepted that she had not reported it as soon as possible.

’She accepts she could have rung police sooner,’ said the advocate. ’Her reason was that nobody else was involved and the vehicle was moved by her boss’s son. She does accept she should have told the police sooner.’

Mr Wilshaw said that Stedman worked on a farm and that her driving licence was required for part of her job.

Magistrates also ordered Stedman to pay £50 prosecution costs.

She will pay the fine and costs at a rate of £25 per week.