A CIRENCESTER man who fled the scene of a late night car accident he caused while driving without a licence or insurance escaped a motoring ban this week.

Nick Hughes, 20, of Market Place, had left a nightclub with a friend and offered to drive his friend's car as the owner felt he was too drunk to drive.

His friend was unaware Hughes only held a provisional licence.

After just 20 yards he crashed into a stationary car in Bishop's Walk car park which then hit another one at around 2am on Saturday, March 3.

Hughes ran from the scene but police arrested him 45 minutes later outside his home.

He was taken to Stroud Police Station where a breath test showed he was not over the drink-drive limit.

The black Mitsubishi L200 and black Jeep Cherokee involved in the accident suffered £600 of damage each.

Hughes appeared before Cheltenham magistrates on Monday charged with driving without a correct licence, driving without insurance and driving without a test certificate.

The sales assistant was given six points on his licence, fined £140 and ordered to pay £43 costs.

Once he obtains his licence, he must complete two years without gaining any more points or his licence will be revoked.