A serial joyrider who crashed a tractor while high on drink and drugs has been jailed for a year.

After binging on temazepam tablets and lager, 22-year-old Joseph Langcake took the tractor for a midnight spin near Workington on April 28 – just hours before he was due in court for similar crimes.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Langcake, of Donald Road, Seaton, admitted almost a dozen offences, including aggravated vehicle taking and driving while unfit through drink and drugs.

Prosecutor Richard Haworth said Langcake first came to the attention of police on December 12 after he took his uncle’s Hyundai car without permission and crashed it so badly it was written off.

He fled the scene without reporting the accident.

The defendant was later linked to the crash because his saliva was found on an air-bag. He admitted driving while unfit through drugs, having earlier taken cocaine.

Langcake was due to be sentenced last Friday but in the early hours of that morning he took the tractor from Seaton.

He was seen driving it erratically, crossing white lines and travelling too wide on corners. Having crashed into another tractor, he went on to fully admit his guilt.

“He had eight cans of Foster’s lager and six temazepam tablets,” said Mr Haworth.

“He said he’d been stupid.”

Langcake was on bail and subject to an interim driving ban at the time. 

Marion Weir, defending, said Langcake had been out of trouble for five years. But in August his grandfather had died.

“He was making forward strides in life, but reverted back to his old lifestyle of drugs and drink, and has struggled to come to terms with that,” said Miss Weir.

However, Langcake was keen to address his issues with alcohol and drug recovery service Unity, whose representatives were willing to help him.

Miss Weir added: “He recognises custody may well be something that on this occasion will assist him.”

Langcake was also given a three-year driving ban and he will have to sit an extended re-test.