A DRIVER who crashed a pick-up truck into a charity shop has been handed a lengthy ban by the courts.

Michael Brown, 37, was taken to court in relation to the collision in Lymington Road, Highcliffe, on April 26 last year.

Brown, of Cedar Grove, Thatcham, previously pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, using a motor vehicle with a tyre which had the ply or cord exposed, failing to stop after a collision and failing to report a collision.

He appeared in the dock at Poole Magistrates' Court for sentencing on Wednesday, January 19.

Court papers state the crash, which involved Brown driving a Ford Ranger, led to a man being injured as well as damage being caused to the Sue Ryder charity shop and a Hyundai Kona car.

Magistrates handed Brown a two-year community order, with a requirement to take part in up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 18 months, with an order to pay a £95 surcharge and £85 costs.