A MAN who left his car in the middle of the motorway following a crash in the dead of night has escaped being banned from driving.

Daniel Thomas' Vauxhall Corsa was broadside in the middle lane of the M4 near junction 16 after he smashed into the central reservation at about 2.15am.

But, rather than flag down other road users or use emergency phones to call the police, the 21-year-old, of The Ridge, Blunsdon, left the scene.

Simon Brenchley, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court Thomas had been driving home from a night out in Cardiff, where he had drunk a couple of cans of cider, when the accident happened.

Early on Monday, May 29 last year the car collided with the central reservation 500 metres east of junction 16.

He said the car hit the barrier and came to a halt in lane two with either end of the vehicle in lanes one and three.

Fortunately, another driver with a yellow flashing light on his vehicle roof stopped and put on the warning beacon.

Mr Brenchley said: "Had he not been there, there could have been real danger to other people on the road."

When the police arrived at 2.30am they found the empty car with the windows open and were concerned someone had been thrown from the car in the accident.

Meanwhile, Thomas clambered off the motorway and up to the nearby Hilton Hotel where he phoned a friend to tell him what had happened.

The friend then collected him from near the hotel and Thomas used the other man's mobile to call his mother.

He also told the friend he had left his wallet in the car but when the pal suggested they go back to get it he insisted he had to speak to his mother first and did not want to return.

Shortly before 3am Thomas' mother phoned the police but by then they were already at the scene of the accident.

Thomas admitted a charge of failing to report an accident.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client worked as an inspector at Honda, taking home about £300 a week and living with his parents.

He said Thomas had no previous convictions, apart from a speeding penalty.

Passing sentence, Judge John McNaught said: "You had an accident on the motorway and you were unwise enough to leave the scene and not straightaway get help.

"That put other motorists potentially in very considerable danger because people driving at night on the motorway at legitimately high speeds do not expect a vehicle to be straddling the motorway in front of them.

"There could have been a terrible pile-up."

He fined Thomas £350 and gave him six penalty points on his licence.