Witness praised for actions after driver is traced

12:30pm Thursday 28th August 2008

A DRIVER was traced after a witness saw him driving away from the scene of a crash in Malvern.

Ian Woodhouse crashed into Christopher Moir’s parked Subaru, causing an estimated £2,000 damage, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Mr Moir returned from the hairdressers to find a note on his windscreen from witness Kathleen Williams and was able to trace the van driver to the Hereford branch of Redbridge.

Judge Alistair McCreath dismissed an appeal against convictions for careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident.

Woodhouse, aged 34, of Brookside, Canon Pyon, was fined £950 with £200 costs by Worcester magistrates.

The judge upheld the penalty and imposed a further £452 Crown Courts costs.

Woodhouse did not attend the hearing after the court refused to grant a second adjournment. The case was proven in his absence.

The smash happened in Graham Road on July 5 after Mr Moir left his car parked in a marked bay. Damage was caused to a wheel and bodywork and a mirror was ripped off by the impact.

Mrs Williams was outside her flat when she heard “a huge bang” and saw the white van being driven off.

She noted the Redbridge logo and left her phone number on the Subaru’s windscreen. Mr Moir traced the culprit via the internet.

The firm’s head office put Mr Moir onto the Hereford branch and it confirmed that Woodhouse was in the Malvern area making deliveries on the day of the crash.

Prosecutor Raj Punia said that, in a police interview, Woodhouse could not recall a collision. He claimed his manager was unable to find any damage on the van.

Judge McCreath said he was satisfied that Woodhouse had collided with the parked car and was aware of his action.

He thanked Mrs Williams for her public-spirited help.

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