A businessman overturned his car and left it in the road while he and two friends walked ten miles home.

Adam Thorpe, 23, who runs a property and lifestyle business in North Yorkshire, had been out in Masham and offered to take two friends home in his Smart car, Simon Ostler, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates.

He lost control at 60mph on a road to Newton le Willows and the car tipped over.

Mr Ostler said Thorpe, of Gill Edge Estate, Bainbridge, Wensleydale, walked to the home of Richard Grant, who had been slightly injured in the accident.

Thorpe pleaded guilty to failing to report an accident.

His solicitor Christobel Hallis said the men had battery problems with their mobiles and did not feel the situation warranted calling out the emergency services.

They were going to wait until 8am or 9am before calling the police. But at 3.30am, five hours after the accident, officers arrived at the door.

Thorpe was fined £400 with £45 costs and was banned from driving for 56 days.