A LLANGOEDMOR man involved in a car crash on New Year’s Day asked witnesses not to call the police as he knew he’d “get done”, magistrates have heard.

Paul Rumbold, 52, admitted drink-driving, but magistrates heard he had to be tracked down by a police dog after leaving the scene and lying in tall grass to hide.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said that police were called at 6pm by witnesses who came across the crash scene on the B4570 at Llangoedmor involving Rumbold’s Jaguar X Type.

They told police that Rumbold, who Ms Tench said was described as smelling of alcohol, had been sat alone in the car and had asked the witnesses not to contact the police.

After they took his keys away from him, Rumbold, of Awelfryn, walked off in the direction of Cardigan.

A police dog was brought to the scene and tracked Rumbold down to a nearby field where he was lying in grass.

While being taken to the police station, Rumbold told officers that he had a headache following the crash and was taken to Bronglais Hospital.

A breath test more than three hours after the crash was reported showed that Rumbold had 49 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

He told police that he had drunk four pints of bitter before driving.

Alison Mathias, defending Rumbold, said although he had drunk on the day, Rumbold had also eaten and didn’t think he would be over the limit.

She said that continuing his job as a self-employed carpenter would be very difficult following a driving ban, but that he wanted to apologise for the offence.

Ms Mathias added: “He accepts it was an extremely foolish decision to drive, especially as he only lives a quarter of a mile away and could have easily walked the distance home.”

Rumbold was banned from driving for 12 months. He was also fined £240 and will pay costs totalling £115.