A new father whose careless driving damaged a parked car blamed the accident on being tired out by fatherhood.

Magistrates at Carlisle's Rickergate courts heard how 25-year-old Jack Campbell simply drove away after accidentally clipping the parked Audi, leaving its bodywork damaged.

In court, Campbell, of Castlerigg Drive, Morton, admitted careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report the crash within 24 hours.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the defendant had been in his VW Golf, negotiating a junction off Newlaithes Avenue in Carlisle on October 5, when hit the parked Audi, causing damage to its wheel-arch.

Police were able to trace the defendant's car, and found that it had damage consistent with having been involved in that crash.

Defence lawyer John Smith, for Campbell, said: “He is a working man, with no convictions, and two weeks before this incident, his son was born.

“At home, he and his partner have basically been getting very little sleep because their son keeps them awake. Mr Campbell was coming home from a shop, pulled out of the junction, and because he was tired, he misjudged it.

“His wheel-arch scraped against the wheel-arch of the parked vehicle.

“The damage to his own car caused £400 to repair. The damage to the other car was dealt with through his insurers. He made a mistake and then went home.”

Mr Smith then pleaded with the court not to strip the defendant of his licence, pointing out that he needed to be able to drive to continue with his job. Campbell confirmed that he could not continue in his present job as a driver without his licence.

Mr Smith said a ban would cause the defendant exceptional hardship, leading to the loss of his employment and possibly his rented accommodation.

Magistrates imposed a £375 fine, with £85 costs, and a £37 victims' surcharge.

The magistrates then turned to the issue of whether Campbell, who already has six points on his driving licence for using a mobile while driving, should be banned under the so-called “totting up” procedure.

They imposed a further seven points on his licence, taking his total to 13 points.

But they drew back from banning him, agreeing that this would indeed cause him exceptional hardship.

They warned him that he would not be able to use the same argument again should he in the future get further points. They points will stay on his licence for three years.