Conservative MP for Bridgend Jamie Wallis has been found guilty of failing to stop, failing to report a road traffic collision and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position after a late-night crash on Church Road, Llanblethian, South Wales, on November 28 last year.
He was found not guilty of driving without due care and attention by District Judge Tan Ikram at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Wallis has been disqualified from driving for six months and fined £2,500 after being found guilty of three traffic offences.
The MP was also ordered to pay additional costs of £620 and a victim surcharge of £190 within 14 days.
District Judge Tan Ikram dismissed the first charge against Wallis as he said the Crown had not proven the MP was driving without due care and attention when he crashed.
Convicting Wallis of the other three charges, Judge Ikram said: “I am going to be upfront: I didn’t find the defendant credible in the evidence he gave.
“When I watched him give evidence it seemed to me not only was he fitting his own behaviour around the behaviour of PTSD, and his actions on the night does not suggest he was overwhelmed and acting out of fear that night.
“Having PTSD is not a defence. What the prosecution have proved to me he was able to make decisions that night – he made bad decisions.
“I am sure he was not prevented through PTSD to giving details or particulars and report the accident soon after.
“He made a decision he didn’t want to be there and made a decision to ring his father.
“Through all of that period he could have rung 999 or 101 – he didn’t. I am sure he didn’t through a conscious choice, not through being overwhelmed or acting irrationally.”
Bridgend MP Jamie Wallis arrives at Cardiff Magistrates Court
Ben Birchall
Conservative MP for Bridgend Jamie Wallis leaving Cardiff Magistrates' Court
Bronwen Weatherby