THE Earl of Cardigan was convicted in his absence of failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident, driving without due care and attention and driving without insurance but he says he is to appeal.

Magistrates in Salisbury handed him six penalty points on his licence and ordered he pay a fine of £2,126 at the hearing last Wednesday.

The court was told that Earl Cardigan, David Brudenell-Bruce, 66, of Savernake Lodge, Savernake Forest, Marlborough had driven his BMW into a car owned by a nurse that was parked at Savernake Hospital.

As the 66-year-old was leaving the hospital car park, the court was told he hit a rear wheel arch of nurse Alexandra Stephen’s Seat Leon, causing £750 of damage.

Another nurse, Sally-Anne Mackay, said she saw him drive away from the scene.

Salisbury Magistrates’ Court heard nurse Ms Mackay was talking to a friend when they heard Brudenell-Bruce’s 2002-plate BMW 535i crash into Mrs Stephen’s Seat.

Giving evidence, Ms Mackay told magistrates she took picture of the BMW car as he drove away.

She said: “I was standing with my back to the car talking to my friend. I heard a car reverse out from behind me and then I heard a bang.

“I turned around and saw the car had hit a parked car. I was shocked, there was a clear noise. I was lucky I had my phone in my hand.”

Ms Mackay said she returned to the hospital reception to find out whose car had been hit, sending the pictures of Brudenell-Bruce’s motor to fellow nurse Mrs Stephen.

Prosecutor Stuart Sampson told the court the Earl admitted to police he had been at the hospital on November 20, last year, when the accident happened.

Reading a summary of the police interview, Mr Sampson: “When asked about the allegation, he stated he was unaware of any crash.

“He said he was at the hospital at an appointment with his wife and daughter. He stated he was the driver and did not have a valid insurance policy.”