Richard Gavin Austin, was given an interim ban by Oswestry magistrates last week and made subject to pre-sentence reports and re-appear before the court on April 1.

Austin, 23, of Flat 1, Scotland House, Scotland Street, Ellesmere, admitted that he drove a Renault Clio in Cross Street, with excess alcohol on February 24.

Mr Nick Hughes, prosecuting said that at 10.20pm police watching CCTV saw Austin go into the Railway Tavern and come out at 12.20am before driving down Cross Street.

About 15 minutes later a man standing at the entrance to the Ellesmere Hotel saw a small dark car with its light on in a town centre car park.

He watched as it reversed back at speed and heard the sound of it hitting a parked car before driving off towards Watergate Street.

The man then went to his car and found the bumper and rear lights had been damaged in the collision.

Police attended the scene and later found Austin hiding behind a wall in a garden in Berwyn View.

A breath test showed a reading of 95 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He was interviewed about the events and fully admitted the offences.

Depression

He told police that he had drunk several pints of beer and due to his intoxicated condition believed it was better for him to leave the area following the accident.

In June 2004, Austin had a conviction for driving with excess alcohol, the court was told.

Mr Alun Williams, defending, said that he had a duty to point out that Austin was in breach of a community order for 100 hours which had been imposed for an offence of theft.

He said that Austin's depression had manifested itself in drink problems.

He had not intended to drive but had an argument in the public house with one of the owners and got into his car .

Magistrates called for a full pre sentence report and imposed an interim ban on Austin who was told he could expect to be banned for a minimum of three years for his second offence in four years.