A DAD told a court he is “ashamed” after he crashed into a car while drunk and then drove off.

Robert Peter Evans was driving his Vauxhall Insignia when he collided with a Nissan X-Trail whilst he tried to overtake it in Malmesbury.

He had been in a pub almost all afternoon drinking, he told police.

Evans was given a hefty fine and told to undergo mental health and alcohol addiction treatment.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger told Swindon Magistrates’ Court that the driver of the Nissan had reported a car overtaking him on the wrong side of the road, and slowing down.

“He tried to speak to the driver, who has driven off after hitting the rear of the vehicle.”

But soon, police found the Insignia outside of Evans’s address with “significant front-end damage”.

The 36-year-old smelt of alcohol and told officers: “Yes it was me, I’ve been drinking and driving today, just lock me up.”

He also told police he had no insurance.

Mr Ballinger continued: “He admits he was the driver at the time.

“He had gone to a pub at quarter past midday, had been drinking all day, left the pub and got into his vehicle.

“He regretted his actions and on the way home collided with a vehicle.”

Evans, of Avon Road in Malmesbury, was arrested and gave a reading of 118 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – more than triple the drink-drive limit.

He told the court he was “ashamed” of himself, and that the insurance had lapsed.

“[I] couldn’t afford it one month and I never set it up again. No excuse,” he said.

Evans admitted drink driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

Sentencing, District Judge Joanna Dickens said: “You know and I know that drinking and driving is really serious.

“In your case you were really drunk. You were the most honest I have ever seen anyone in a pre-sentence report.

“It is such a high reading you could have killed somebody.”

She acknowledged that “without his admissions, it might have been difficult to prove who was driving”, adding: “He has done the decent thing here.”

DJ Dickens gave Evans a 12-month community order, including a six-month alcohol treatment requirement, 12 mental health treatment sessions and five rehabilitation activity days.

She also fined him £750, ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a £95 victim surcharge.

Evans was also banned from the road for two years, which can be reduced through an awareness course.