A CARELESS driver banned from every pub in Evesham had been behind the wheel without a licence since he was 12 when he crashed and ran off.

Jordan Gurney, aged 23, of Strawberry Place, Pershore was uninsured and had no licence when he fled the scene of the accident in Evesham, even trying to blame the other innocent motorist for what happened.

He admitted using a motor vehicle without third party insurance, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after a road accident and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Last September we reported how Gurney, who is known to become 'aggressive' when drunk, has been banned from every pub, bar and nightclub in Evesham as part of a criminal behaviour order.

The CBO was granted on the conviction for a section 4 public order offence committed on the May 27 last year at Gardeners Arms pub, Evesham where he made threats of violence towards another.

By the terms of the CBO he is prohibited from entering any licensed premises within Evesham, entering BAR 57 in Pershore and refusing to leave a premises or area forming part of a premises when asked by someone who has authority to do so.

Ralph Robyns-Landricombe, prosecuting the driving offences, said the collision happened at the junction of Briar Close and Albert Road in Evesham on June 9 last year.

Gurney was driving a Peugeot when he overtook another driver who was turning (and indicating) right in a Renault Kangoo van. As he overtook, Gurney collided with the van's offside and the van ended up 'wedged against a wall on the far side of the junction'.

Gurney got out of the van and was heard by the driver to swear and say: "Why did you do that?"

The other driver replied: "You hit me!"

Gurney then took the keys out of the ignition of his Peugeot, causing the car to jump forward 'before he ran away along Albert Road'.

"He subsequently called police, saying he was the driver. He said he had been driving since he was 12 years old with no licence" said the prosecutor.

Gurney told officers he had bought the car earlier that morning and had intended to sell it.

Amer Hussain, defending, said Gurney was performing well on his community orders and that he had entered his guilty pleas at the first available opportunity.

He also said his client had contacted police 'within half an hour' of the crash. There had been no breach of a driving disqualification, imposed on July 19 last year.

For failing to stop, magistrates fined him £120 and disqualified him from driving for six months. For driving without due care and attention they imposed no separate penalty but did order Gurney to pay compensation of £300 to the owner of the Kangoo van. For driving without insurance, magistrates also decided to impose no separate penalty.

However, his licence will be endorsed with details of the offence. No order was made for costs but he will have to pay a statutory £34 victim surcharge. A fines collection order was made, granting the court extra powers to recover the debt. This will be consolidated with his other outstanding fines.