Siphiwe Sylvestor Gamede had been banned from the road for 24 months in February 2007 for drink-driving offences.

But in the early hours of July 1 he lost control of a Volkswagen Golf on the A17, ploughing through the front garden of a property on Boston Road, Holbeach, and leaving it overturned.

The house owners awoke the next morning to find it empty and notified the police, who traced the owner. He said he had lent the car to his friend, Gamede, on the assumption he was insured.

Gamede (24), of Queen's Road, Spalding, admitted driving while disqualified and failing to stop or report a road accident when he appeared at Spalding Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

He also admitted using a vehicle without motor insurance.

He moved to the country a year ago and had been sending back money to his native country, because he is partially responsible for two children there.

He was aided in court by a Zulu interpreter and Ann Whinyates, defending, said he had a working understanding of English but was unaware he had been banned from driving, believing the punishment handed out at Peterborough Magistrates' Court in February had concluded the matter.

She said: "He thought he would either go to prison for two years or pay a £400 fine. He paid the fine and thought that was the end of it."

She added: "He has shown himself to be a good citizen in every way, save for his difficulty of understanding issues in law."

Sentencing was adjourned until today for pre-sentence reports.