A DRINK-DRIVER was more than three times the limit when he crashed his car into a kerb while on the way to buy painkillers.

Workington Magistrates' Court heard that a police officer was on patrol at about 10pm on April 9 when he was called to a report of a vehicle causing a disturbance on Ashfield Road in Workington.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the officer arrived to find a car in the middle of the road. There was damage to the door of the vehicle.

The driver, John Jenns, 39, exited the Peugeot 407 from the driving position, walked towards the police officer and stopped on a small patch of grass.

He was unsteady on his feet and shouted, 'my car won't go anywhere'.

The court was told that the steering wheel was on full lock and the vehicle was still running.

The defendant was breathalysed and gave a reading of 109mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Jenns told police he had watched the horse races in Workington and then walked back to his home on Furness Road.

He later required painkillers and thought he would be sober by this point, so drove. He had then crashed into a kerb and tried to move the car off but was unable to do so.

Jenns, who was unrepresented, said: "All I can do is apologise. I know I am in the wrong. Hopefully, it won't happen again."

The defendant said he was working on the HS2 railway in London and would not be able to keep his job if he was given a lengthy driving ban.

He pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle with alcohol level above the limit.

Jenns was banned from driving for 25 months, to be reduced by 25 weeks, if he completes a drink driver's rehabilitation course.

He was fined £912 and must pay £85 costs and a £91 victim surcharge.

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