A MAN who pleaded guilty to a string of offences – including drink driving – on the morning of his trial has been banned from the road for three years.

Llyr Jones was nowhere to be seen when police arrived at the scene of an accident at a Powys farm on March 8 last year, but they traced him because of the trail of blood he left.

Jones, 32, claimed to have initially been a passenger in the Volkswagen Touran that had crashed into fencing at the farm near Welshpool, then said he had no memory of the incident. He had suffered a significant head injury in the crash but decided to flee the area.

When police later caught up with him at home he admitted he had consumed 2 bottles of wine and some cans of Stella – but claimed he had done so after he got home.

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Jones, of Glanhafren, Cyfronydd, near Welshpool, eventually admitted a total of five charges, and was handed a three-year disqualification at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 24.

Jones admitted drink driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after a road accident and failing to report that accident, as well as driving without insurance.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said police were called to the scene of the accident, at Moat Farm, close to the Sarn-y-bryn-caled roundabout near the Welshpool bypass, just before midnight.

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“Considerable damage was caused to farmland fencing, causing the vehicle to spin out of control, then landing in a farm field," she said. "There was no person with the vehicle.

“A Mr Bellis was the owner of the vehicle, he told police he had let the defendant use it as a courtesy vehicle as he was repairing the defendant’s own vehicle.

“There had been lots of calls close to midnight from the defendant, who left voicemails.

“PC Price attended the scene. The vehicle was covered in mud and there was blood on the driver’s door and steering wheel, as well as the inside of the window.

“Police attended at the defendant’s home address and saw he had a significant head injury and smelt of alcohol.

“He would not say who was driving but did say he was with the vehicle. He said he couldn’t remember the majority of the night. He believed his own van’s insurance would cover him."

She added: “He had a deep laceration on his forehead, which he thought might have been caused by a wooden piece of fencing impaling him after it crashed through the window.”

Mrs Tench said Jones had previously been convicted of drink driving and had completed a drink drive rehabilitation course.

She said the alcohol reading provided by Jones was 125 milligrams in 100 millilitres of urine – the legal limit being 107 milligrams.

Jones had changed his not guilty pleas to guilty on the morning of his trial, which had been due to take place on December 19, 2022.

Acting for Jones, Rob Hanratty said: “The defendant has no recollection of the incident. He suffered a significant head injury.

“After analysis of the evidence he accepted advice he should plead guilty. It was pretty clear he was the driver.

“It is in the lower category (of drink driving) but there are obviously the aggravating features of their being an accident and the previous conviction."

Magistrates disqualified Jones for three years and decided not to offer him another drink drive course because he attended one relatively recently.

He must complete a 12-month community order, which will include 50 hours of unpaid work. He will also have to pay a £162 fine, a £95 surcharge and prosecution costs of £400.

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