Published: 17th September 2009 | Author: Sky News
Robert Jones was found guilty of driving with undue care and attention after he drove his BMW down a bridle path so narrow that only dog walkers use it.
Jones, the first person to be found guilty of undue care for following their satnav, was given a £370 fine and six penalty points.
He was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
RAC's Erik Nelson said: "These cases are still few and far between.
"Satnavs are useful to a degree because they help drivers to have focus on the road so they do not have to use a map.
"But common sense must always be applied. The most important thing is that the driver focuses on the road ahead."
The driver, who delivers cars for a living, only realised his error when his car hit the fence before the final drop on a local farmer's land.UK’s Worst Sat nav black spots
1. Dunston Lane, Chesterfield: Used by lorries heading for Sheffield bypass
2. Bridgnorth, Shropshire: Drivers directed to non-existent bridge over the Severn
3. Romiley, Greater Manchester: HGVs blight right of way from Oakwood Rd to Gotherage.
4. Sunbury, Surrey: Trucks hurtle down Thames Street, a narrow road with historic houses on each side, instead of the A308
5. Hascombe, Surrey: Lorries use the B2130 to travel to Gatwick
The farmer told Calderdale Magistrates' Court, in Halifax, that the path was so narrow that he would not even take his horses down it.
Jones also had to pay £1,000 to the recovery service, after it took nine hours and three quad bikes to tow his BMW from the cliff, in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.
Waseem Raja, prosecuting, said: "Mr Jones slavishly continued to follow the satnav system to the point where his eyes and his brain must have been telling him otherwise."
Speaking after the incident earlier this year, Jones, 43, said he trusted his satnav and relied on it for his job.
"I might have been an idiot for taking the wrong road or carrying on but I have not driven without due care or attention.
"I'm sorry it happened. I certainly would not do it again."
He said he continued to follow the instructions when it told him the footpath he was driving on was a road.
