Gavin Smith, 44, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, property damage, driving an unsafe vehicle, failing stop at a red light and drink driving in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ben Jones told the court that on January 26 this year, a witness observed a silver Mazda on Camp Street at around 11.30pm.

The car, which was driven by Smith, collided with a barrier on the southern side of Sturt Street. He drove away without reporting the incident, leaving behind a hub cap. The road barrier was damaged in the process.

Smith drove away from the crash east on Sturt Street, before running a red light on Grenville Street North. A witness reported the matter to police, and followed the scratch marks on the road from the damaged car to Sheppard Street, where it was stationary.

At 11.57pm, police found Smith sitting in the driver's seat of the silver sedan. The keys remained in the ignition of the car, which still had the engine running, and the front right-hand side tyre was "severely damaged", according to Senior Constable Jones.

Police smelt alcohol on the man's breath, and he was conveyed to the Ballarat Police Station, where he was tested and found with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.175.

Smith, who represented himself in court, said since the January incident he had been required to "deal with the consequences".

He told the court that as he could no longer drive to work, because of the immediate licence disqualification, he was cycling an hour and a half each day to his premises of employment in Blowhard.

"It was very immature and irresponsible," he said. "I'm really hoping the court can take some mercy on me."

Magistrate Steven Raleigh fined the man $900 and his licence was disqualified for 17 months.