Durham drug driver lucky to be alive when he crashed on A688

James Douglas had already had his licence revoked as he was unfit to drive due to his diagnosis of epilepsy.

The 43-year-old crashed his Land Rover into another vehicle on the A688 at the Bowburn interchange on February 29 this year.

Michael Embleton, prosecuting, told Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court how police carried out a roadside drugs wipe of the defendant and it showed he had taken cocaine.

He said: “Officers found one vehicle with extensive damage and the defendant was pinned to the steering wheel. He had suffered facial injuries.”

Douglas was taken to hospital for treatment and was given painkilling medication which showed up in a subsequent blood test.

The defendant, of Sharp Crescent, Gilesgate, Durham, pleaded guilty to driving whilst above the limit for cocaine, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

The court heard how he was already serving a suspended sentence for an unrelated matter.

Mohammed Aftab, mitigating, said his client understood how lucky he had been when he crashed his 4x4.

He said: “He knows he should never get behind the wheel of a vehicle whilst he is unfit. He is grateful that he is alive rather than dead.

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“He appreciates that and recognises that – he realises he is very, very lucky to be alive. He has learned his lesson.”

Suzanne Chivers, the chair of the magistrates’ bench, said: “We are going to activate your suspended sentence in full for 12 months, whilst they are not similar offences it shows you cannot follow a court order.”

Douglas was jailed for a total of one year and 18 weeks for all offences.

He was also banned from driving for three years and nine months and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £154.