A MOTORIST who had been drinking heavily at a party panicked and drove off after hitting a pedestrian who stepped out in front of his car without warning.
He had no chance of avoiding the man and another driver behind him also struggled to stop in time and prevent a second crash, the court was told.
Matthew Peasley, 30, formerly of Corporation Road, Grimsby, admitted drink-driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report the incident on March 24.
Brendan Woodward, prosecuting, said an ambulance was called to Freeman Street, Grimsby, after a pedestrian was knocked down.
He was suspected to have suffered a broken shoulder.
Peasley's passenger got out of the car and went to the scene but Peasley drove off.
His car was found in his garage, with damage to its windscreen.
Police went inside the house and spoke to Peasley, who was under the influence of drink.
A breath test revealed he had 108mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
He said the pedestrian stepped into the path of his car between parked vehicles.
Peasley had been drinking at a party the previous day and had downed four further pints before driving home, even though he knew he would be over the limit.
Pippa Hanley, mitigating, said Peasley claimed he panicked because the collision brought back "flashbacks" and "nightmares" of a horrific incident on board a ship at sea several years ago.
He had witnessed a fatal accident involving a vehicle on board, which had suddenly moved, killing someone.
Peasley now living in Immingham to be nearer his work as a forklift truck driver, was given 120 hours' unpaid work, was banned from driving for two years and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victims' surcharge.
The driver behind Peasley confirmed the pedestrian appeared from nowhere and she also struggled to avoid a collision
District judge Daniel Curtis told Peasley: "It was by no means your fault that this accident happened."
