AN Abergavenny man was given a 12 month conditional discharge yesterday for failing to stop at the scene of a fatal accident.

Alwyn Smith, 35, of Charles Close, was sentenced in his absence at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court yesterday after he hit 19-year-old Anthony Farley, from Bettws, Newport.

He is currently in prison after being sentenced to two concurrent terms of 12 months at Newport Crown Court last month for causing death by driving whilst uninsured and causing death by driving whilst unlicensed, in relation to the same incident. Smith pleaded guilty to all three charges.

Prosecutor Lisa James said yesterday the incident happened on February 21 2010, when Mr Farley was sliding down Armoury Hill, Tredegar, with cousin David Roberts, 24 and Mr Roberts’ son.

They were using sheets of polythene on the snow and at around 4.10pm, Mr Farley and Mr Roberts went down the hill together.

They both slid on to the road and into the path of a silver Peugeot 406, driven by Smith. The vehicle collided with both men, before leaving the scene.

Mrs James told the court that Smith handed himself in at Tredegar Police Station at 6.40pm, telling officers he panicked because he had no licence and was uninsured.

Smith was sentenced at Newport Crown Court last month for the first two charges.

Judge Eleri Rees sentenced the defendant to two concurrent terms of 12 months and banned Smith from driving for two years - stating she had taken into account the third charge in sentencing.

But, because Smith pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of an accident at the Magistrates’ Court, this was dealt with yesterday.

Chairwoman of the bench Diane Davies sentenced Smith to a 12 month conditional discharge.

She said: "We have noted that Judge Rees took this offence into consideration when she sentenced him to custody. He will not be punished today, but if he commits another offence in the next 12 months, he will be brought back and sentenced."

Mrs Davies awarded no costs as the defendant is currently in prison.