A 78-YEAR-OLD disabled woman was left without transport for weeks after a hit-and-run driver wrote off her car.

Blackburn magistrates heard her vehicle was parked in a disabled bay in Darwen centre when it was hit from behind, shunted over a kerb and into metal railings.

But because William Yates was not traced for five weeks, by which time he had told his insurers the accident was not his fault, Winnifred Goodwin was told by her insurers they could not pay her until the situation was sorted out.

“I was a totally innocent party but was made to suffer,” said Mrs Goodwin. “I was in a council meeting when the crash happened and came out to find my car written off. I did eventually get paid out but there was a long delay because of the way he behaved.”

Yates, 28, of Fitzgerald Drive, Darwen, pleaded guilty to failing to stop and failing to report an accident. He was made subject to community supervision for 12 months, ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work and pay £200 compensation to Mrs Goodwin and £43 costs.