A DRIVER who caused more than £100,000 of damage when his lorry jack-knifed in Colcheser’s Dutch Quarter has had to pay a fine of just £40.

Daniel Gyongyosi, 47, was following directions from his sat nav and travelling down St Helen’s Lane when he crashed into a house.

A court heard how the £20,000 trailer had been written off and the £80,000 of olive oil en route to Waitrose spilt on to the road.

The lorry crashed on Sunday at 11pm.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard how Hungarian Gyongyosi, who does not speak English, knew the road was too narrow and ignored signs telling him HGV’s were not suitable.

He admitted careless driving.

Helen Booth, prosecuting, said: “Mr Gyongyosi was a driver of a lorry from Dunkirk to Colchester, delivering olive oil to Waitrose.

“He followed his sat nav directions when the street signs clearly indicated the roads St Peter’s Street and St Helen’s Lane are not suitable for lorries.

“It appears he took the roads irrespective of the signs and eventually got stuck.”

A tyre on the lorry exploded, causing the trailer to crash into a house and railings, causing £15,000 damage.

The court was told insurance companies will pay for the damage.

Evelyn Hicks, mitigating, said Gyongyosi had been driving lorries since the age of 18 and had not been involved in an accident in 30 years.

She said: “He has fallen well below the standard of what is required of a competent and careful driver.

“Mr Gyongyosi’s employers in Hungary will treat him very harshly potentially and it may well be his momentary lapse in concentration may result in him losing his job, despite having 30 years of competent and careful driving.”

Gyongyosi was fined £120 and £100 costs, but only had to pay £40 because he spent time in police custody. His licence was endorsed with six points.

Dr Perkins Van-Mil, chairman of the bench, said: “This was a very bad misjudgment on your part and it led to consequences which far outweigh what you actually did.”