A LEOMINSTER man lied to police by saying he had not been driving moments after he crashed his car through a hedge.

Daniel James Edwards was travelling on the B4361 when his Renault Megane left the road and came to rest in a field upside down.

Hereford Magistrates heard that when police arrived Edwards told officers he was the registered keeper of the vehicle but said that he had been a passenger in the crash.

This resulted in the police helicopter being called out and the use of thermal imaging equipment to try and find the driver.

However, the defendant's false statement came to light when he made an insurance claim and admitted that he had been the driver of the vehicle during the accident.

Defence barrister Roger Dalimore said: "Mr Edwards accepts that his driving must have fallen below the required standard and pleads guilty on that basis.

"On a personal level, he is a single man, who lives with his parents, and works as a door supervisor. He has a full clean driving licence and it is hoped that you do not disqualify him from driving, as this would affect his employment as his main work is in Hereford and Abergavenny."

The 26-year-old, of Sandpits, pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer and careless driving in the crash on October 8 last year, which left him with minor cuts and bruises.

He was fined £100 last week and given six penalty points on his licence for careless driving.

He was also fined £150 for obstructing a police officer and ordered to pay £65 in prosecution costs.