A DRUNKEN motorist left a woman injured after he drove away while she was talking to him through his car window.

Paul Fyfe’s car struck a parked vehicle on Seven Acres, Parton, on September 29, Whitehaven Magistrates Court heard last week.

When Florence Tyson saw the accident, and recognised the damaged car as her husband’s, she went over to speak to Fyfe – a man she knew as a former neighbour.

However, after they had spoken and while Mrs Tyson still had her head in the driver’s window, Fyfe drove away.

Mrs Tyson, who is retired, fell to the ground and later had to attend the West Cumberland Hospital, suffering from a bruised arm and sore ribs and chest.

The police were called and later found Fyfe’s car abandoned in the Brewery Brow area of Parton and, after using a sniffer dog to locate him, found the defendant hiding nearby.

After his arrest, he provided a breath sample of 95mcgms of alcohol in 100mls of breath; the limit is 35.

The court heard that Fyfe, who had been drinking whisky prior to the incident, had collided with two other parked cars during the episode.

Fyfe, 39, of Derwent Street, Workington, admitted drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident in which an injury was caused.

He was given a 12-month community order to include 140 hours of unpaid work and an alcohol awareness course. He was also banned from driving for 24 months and must pay £85 costs.

Solicitor Simon Ward, for Fyfe, said: “He knows Mr and Mrs Tyson and is devastated at what he has done.

“This was entirely out of character and wants to apologise to all those involved.”

Mr Ward added that his client has little recollection of events due to the amount of alcohol he had drunk.