A DRINK-DRIVER who had finished Dry January was found by police in a bush after crashing into a ditch.

Officers were called by an off-duty paramedic, who came across a single vehicle road traffic collision on the Maryport to Allonby road on February 5.

He had approached the person in the driver’s side but due to the driver’s reaction, decided to leave the situation and inform police, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said an officer attended and found John Ritson, 56, in a nearby bush with the car keys. The officer requested a breath sample and it was positive.

Ritson was asked to provide a sample at the police station and gave a reading of 95mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Mr Kelly said it was the defendant’s second drink-drive offence in 10 years.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said: “The defendant himself has limited recollection of what went on. It does appear to be a single road traffic collision. He is in a ditch in the side of the road.

“What had gone on that night, he had done Dry January. He had gone out for some alcohol. It had a significant impact on him.

“He has indicated he had made arrangements to be picked up. It’s in an area where the risk of coming into another road user at that time was quite limited.

“He has expressed remorse. He has been considering if there are issues he needs to address. He doesn’t think there are underlying issues.”

Ritson, of Kilbowie Place, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with alcohol level above the limit.

Magistrates imposed a 36-month driving ban, to be reduced by a third, if the defendant completes the drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.

Ritson was given a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

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