A TAXI driver drove off after mounting the kerb, crashing into a lamp post and causing thousands of pounds of damage, York magistrates heard.

David Stanley Birch, 53, already had three points on his driving licence for speeding.

Prosecuting, Kathryn Reeve said CCTV filmed the moment at 4.57am on September 8 when he crashed into the post at the junction of Piccadilly and Merchantgate in York city centre and drove off towards Coppergate in a damaged car.

Part of the wreckage flew into the air and smashed the nearby Tesco Express plate glass window, which cost £2,000 to replace.

His solicitor Mark Dooley said he expects to keep his Hackney carriage licence.

Magistrates put eight points on Birch’s driving licence and warned him that any more law-breaking will put him off the road for at least six months because he will then have at least 12 points.

Birch, of Celandine Rise, Swinton near Rotherham, but who who works for a York taxi firm, pleaded guilty to careless driving, failure to stop and failure to report an accident.

In addition to the points, he was ordered to pay £1,020 consisting of an £850 fine, £85 prosecution costs and an £85 statutory surcharge.

Mr Dooley said: “The taxi licensing (authorities) appear to be aware of this incident. They have given him a second chance.”

Birch had started working for the taxi firm in September 2015 after hearing that York was “crying out for taxi drivers”.

He had been on his way back to the office and didn’t have a passenger when the crash occurred.

“He had lost control of the vehicle momentarily. He must have mounted the kerb,” said Mr Dooley.

“He knew he had hit something and he was aware there was some damage caused to his vehicle on this occasion. He was very thankful it wasn’t a person he had hit.”

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