Stewart Urqhart (26), of Pingle Bank, Holme, near Peterborough, crashed a BMW M3 on Lincoln Road, Walton, Peterborough in May this year.

Peterborough Magistrates' Court heard that Urqhart had picked the car up for his boss, but lost control on the wet road on a roundabout near a petrol station on the road.

The collision happened just yards away from a crossing point used by dozens of children attending the nearby Voyager School.

A police inspection of the car after the crash showed that two of the tyres were bald.

Yesterday Urqhart pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and two counts of driving a vehicle with defective tyres.

Prosecuting, Giles Beaumont said: "On Friday, May 16 he was driving along the Lincoln Road near the Shell garage. When he got on to the roundabout, he lost traction and hit the central reservation.

"After the accident police described the tyres on the car as being 'bald.'

"When he was interviewed by police he said that he had 'given it some gas' and lost control."

Urqhart, who appeared at court without a solicitor, said: "I had picked up the car for my boss. I understand that it is ultimately my responsibility to make sure the car was road worthy, but my boss said it would be fine to drive.

"I was driving down the road, when I put my foot down and lost control. I remember the steering wheel shaking, and the next thing I knew the emergency services had arrived.

"I am not making any excuses, and found the car was just too much for me to handle.

"I was travelling at less than 40 mph when I crashed."

Chair of the magistrates Lionel Cunnington agreed with Urqhart that it was the drivers responsibility to check that the car was road worthy, and that he should have checked before getting in the car.

Urqhart was fined £160 for the driving without due care and attention, and £80 for each count of driving with defective tyres.

He was also ordered to pay £35 costs and a victim surcharge of £15, as well as having six points put on his licence.