A MOTORIST who crashed and then abandoned his car on a country road near Penrith was drug driving at the time, a court heard.

The offence committed by Harry Phillips, 27, came to light on November 21 last year after he lost control of his Ford Mondeo on the B5288 Greystoke to Penrith Road in wet driving conditions, Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard.

Neither the driver nor his female passenger were injured but the car was damaged and left at the scene, the court heard. 

“The road traffic accident was reported to the police by a member of the public,” said prosecutor George Shelley.

 When police caught up with Phillips at his home address, he was given a drugs swipe test, which proved positive for a cocaine breakdown product. A blood test confirmed he had 120mcg of the substance in every litre of blood.

The legal limit for driving is 50mcg. In court, the defendant, of Clifford Court, Penrith, pleaded guilty to drug driving. He told District Judge John Temperley: “I apologise – and I won’t be doing it again.”

The judge imposed a 24 month ban, with a community order that includes 80 hours of unpaid work in the community. The defendant must also pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge.