A beautician who fled the scene after crashing her Mercedes into another car has received a non-custodial sentence. Mia Pritchard, 24, collided her Mercedes A-Class into a VW Polo at a set of traffic lights following a night out, then proceeded to drive away without stopping, leaving the other driver shaken.

Cheshire Police later discovered the damaged Mercedes abandoned around three miles away the next day. The vehicle had sustained significant front-end damage, including a ripped suspension and a smashed alloy wheel, rendering it inoperable.

Pritchard was identified after the Polo driver memorized the Mercedes’ license plate. Despite facing potential jail time for failing to stop and report the accident, she was spared imprisonment. Pritchard claimed that the crash triggered traumatic memories from a previous serious collision, resulting in her avoiding jail time and being sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work.

During sentencing at Chester Magistrates’ Court, JP Andrew Antoniou emphasized the severity of the incident and the importance of keeping the public safe from reckless drivers. The court learned that the Mercedes had attempted to conceal its identity by removing the front registration plate and damaging the rear plate.

Pritchard, denying alcohol consumption before the crash and intentional plate removal, received a driving ban, unpaid work, rehabilitation activity days, and fines. She admitted to panicking and making a regrettable decision to drive away from the scene. This incident occurred shortly after Pritchard’s previous court appearance for assaulting a police officer.

The prosecution explained that the Polo driver was rear-ended while stationary at traffic lights, resulting in significant damage to the vehicle. Pritchard admitted fleeing due to anxiety and failing to report the crash to authorities.

In her defense, Pritchard’s lawyer highlighted her anxiety issues stemming from a previous serious accident, which led to a delay in her driving experience. She emphasized Pritchard’s caretaking responsibilities for her family members, including a sibling with learning difficulties, as contributing factors to the situation.