JAMES Preece crashed his car into a ditch in Haresfield and then fled from the scene, a court heard.

Preece, aged 23 of Court Gardens, Haresfield pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Stroud Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, August 25.

Prosecutor Theresa Perry said police found a red Vauxhall Astra in a ditch at 12.50am on Saturday, July 31.

"A man standing near the car was identified as Robert Preece, who said his son James had crashed the car and panicked," she said.

"Police found James Preece at an address in Gloucester."

After taking Preece to Stroud police station a breath test revealed he had 47 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35 microgrammes.

Preece, who was not represented, said: "I accept full responsibility for what I have done."

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £200, ordered to pay £85 costs plus £15 victim surcharge.