A CROSSGATES man has been jailed after his third strike for driving while disqualified.

Craig Gerald Andrew Slater, 48, of 17 Droverhall Avenue, already had two previous convictions when he was caught once again driving while disqualified. He also crashed into another car and didn't stop to give his details, and was driving his wife's car without insurance.

Appearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last Wednesday, Slater admitted that on November 17, 2015 on a road or roads, namely Droverhall Avenue, he drove while being disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence to drive.

He also admitted using a motor vehicle without a policy of insurance or such a security in respect of third-party risks. He further admitted being the driver of the vehicle and an accident occurring owing to the presence of said vehicle, whereby he collided with a car and failed to stop and give his name and address and the name and address of the car's owner and identification marks of the vehicle to any person having reasonable grounds for enquiry.

Depute fiscal Louise Ward said: "The vehicle's owner is the wife of the accused. At around 8pm she arrived home and parked her vehicle at the driveway of her house. The vehicle was secure at this time.

"Later, a witness residing at the locus was in bed and heard a long bang. Looking out the window, they saw a small grey car and the accused getting out of the driver's side, walking away.

"At around 12.40am the accused entered the bedroom while his wife was asleep. He was highly agitated and stated that he had hit a car.

"At around 5am the owner of the car that had been struck noted that the car had fresh damage to the front passenger's side. The police observed damage to the vehicle and markings on the road which led to the accused's driveway."

Sheriff Charles Macnair told Slater: "You have a very bad record and should not be behind the wheel of a vehicle until you have sat and passed the extended driving test. You can't have thought in any circumstances that you were allowed to drive. You drove, you crashed and you failed to stop."

He jailed Slater for six months, disqualified him from driving for 14 months, and ordered him to pay a £335 and £200 fine for having no insurance and failing to stop.