A HIGH-FLYING Otley businessman whose sports car smashed into a Grade II listed cottage had behaved in a crassly stupid' way by driving on and refusing to co-operate with police, a court heard.

District Judge Martin Walker, sitting at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, heard how Timothy Appleton, £80,000-a-year managing director of Otley-based yarn and fabrics importers M B Appleton Ltd, had gone drinking when a game he was to have played in at Weeton and Huby Cricket Club on July 22 was called off.

Appleton, 38, had several pints in the Hunter's Inn at nearby Riffa before heading for the £800,000 home he shares with his pregnant wife in Nidderdale, using largely country lanes.

Prosecutor Martin Butterworth said when Appleton's Mercedes 350SL reached Leathley he turned left on to Farnley Park Road, lost control and collided with the front porch of journalist Stephanie Ferguson's Leathley Cottage, which stands beside the River Washburn and which is listed for its architectural and historic interest.

Mr Butterworth said both cottage and car were considerably damaged - it was estimated it would cost up to £20,000 to repair the building - but Appleton drove on, leaving his front number plate behind in the debris.

Police spotted his car broken down as it headed towards Menwith Hill on the B6451. But as officers approached he got it started and drove off. He was followed and eventually arrested on a pub car park in Darley, though not before he had tried to make a run for it.

When Appleton pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen and failing to stop after an accident, charges of careless driving and failing to report the incident were dropped.

In mitigation Nicholas Freeman said Appleton had behaved with crass stupidity. He had a kidney complaint which might have affected the way his body dealt with alcohol but should not have driven.

His car had aquaplaned and clipped a kerb before hitting the cottage and Appleton, who had a head injury, had panicked.

Mr Freeman said Appleton had been desperate to use the toilet, which was why he had run towards the pub. And then, to his shame and embarrassment, he did not co-operate with breath test procedures.

Appleton, a hard-working entrepreneur who did charitable work as well taking sole responsibility for purchasing and sales at a company he took over from his father, was also partner in a property business whose portfolio included a castle and apartments.

He had written to Ms Ferguson to apologise and his insurers had paid for the damage to her cottage.

District Judge Walker said if someone had been in the porch or elsewhere in the cottage, or had another vehicle been on the road, there could have been fatalities.

Appleton was fined a total of £1,500 with £100 costs and a two-year driving ban was imposed.