A POWYS man drove off from the scene of an accident after ripping a fellow driver’s front bumper completely off – insisting he was completely oblivious to any damage being caused.

Shane Manwaring had gone to Builth Wells to pick up a Chinese takeaway on September 5 last year and came back to his car 20 minutes later to find his bumper had disappeared.

The damage had been caused by Nicholas Lockley, who was parked in front of Mr Manwaring and had caught the toe hitch of his Range Rover underneath the front bumper of the victim’s Citroen van.

Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court heard this week that a passenger travelling with Lockley had heard a noise following the incident but had found nothing when getting out of the vehicle to inspect, so they left the scene.

However, Mr Manwaring’s bumper was found a short distance up the high street in Builth’s town centre and a witness and CCTV helped track down 69-year-old Lockley.

He pleaded guilty to careless driving at the hearing on Wednesday, June 8. Two further charges of leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident were withdrawn by prosecutor Stephen Davies.

“It was a Sunday evening, about 8.50pm, when Shane Manwaring had been driving his partner’s white Citroen van; he parked it on Builth High Street and went to get a Chinese,” said Mr Davies.

“He came back to his car around 20 minutes later and could see that the bumper had been pulled off, it was nowhere to be seen. He had to remove the front of it completely before driving off safely.

“He then found the bumper up the street and spoke to a witness who gave him the registration of a vehicle that had caused the damage.

“A police officer located CCTV, which showed the vehicle in front of Mr Manwaring’s had caused the damage, it had been driven by the defendant.

“He said he’d been to the pub and, when he left, his passenger had noticed a noise so got out of the car, but everything looked and seemed OK. He wasn’t aware there was anything wrong.

“His partner said something was dragging but that there was nothing wrong so she got back in the car.”

Owain Jones, acting for Lockley, of Tanybryn, Newbridge-on-Wye, said: “He reverses ever so slowly in a tight spot and was unfortunate that the tow bar of his big Range Rover somehow gets underneath the bumper of the car behind.

“There was no loud bang as he was driving that slowly, so he was unaware it had become connected to his car as he drove away. His passenger noticed some noise and placed part of a bumper on the pavement but said there was nothing to concern himself with.”

Mr Jones said his client suffered with multiple health issues and had recently been told he did not have long to live.

He added: “He is turning 70 in July and is not in good health. He has COPD and emphysema and the prognosis is he hasn’t got long to live. He is also in incredible debt.

“He was attached to the Army in the past and has completed over 20 driving courses, so it is disappointing for him to find himself here. He wishes to say sorry to the other driver; his insurance has already paid out.”

Magistrates fined Lockley £80 and ordered him to pay £180 costs and a £34 surcharge. He also had five points placed on his driving licence.