A motorist approaching a bridge near Shirebrook railway station saw an oncoming car was struggling to take a bend safely at around 5.30pm on 31st May.

Prosecutor Becky Mahon told Chesterfield magistrates on Monday: "He tried to steer to the side but a collision occurred. The other driver then drove away."

A witness heard the collision and saw a Rover 620 stop at the side of the road. Four men got out and left the scene.

The car was registered in the name of Jacek Jarzabek and police later went to his home and saw four men at the address.

"They all denied driving the car. A description of the driver given by the witness matched the defendant," said Miss Mahon.

It was almost three hours after the collision when Jarzabek (25) gave a reading of 86mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath – almost two and a half times the 35mcgs limit.

"In interview he admitted being the driver. He said his vehicle had scratched the side of another car and he had panicked and driven off without stopping. He then walked home.

"He said he had had a couple of beers and some vodka but could not remember how much," added Miss Mahon.

Jarzabek, of Sookholme Road, Shirebrook, admitted drink-driving, failing to stop after an accident and driving without a full licence.

The bench adjourned sentence until Friday for probation service reports and imposed an interim driving ban.

In mitigation, Phil Bloore said: "It was a hot day and he had been swimming in a local pond with friends and they had been drinking while sunbathing.

"He panicked following the accident but he later accepted full responsibility for it. The car has since been scrapped."