A DRINK-DRIVER who was found half a mile from the car he had crashed was warned he could have been charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

Owen Birkett, 21, of Vulcans Lane, Workington, was more than twice the drink-drive limit when police found him following the crash on March 29.

Outlining the case prosecutor Pamela Fee said police were travelling towards Workington at 4.30am when they came across a Hyundai car that appeared to have been in an accident.

The officer carried out a search of the area and found Birkett. He was searched and the keys for the vehicle were found on his person, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

A breath sample taken from Birkett at the police station showed he had 85mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Birkett, a Sellafield worker, told police a deodorant can had got stuck behind the pedal and he had gone to move it and had crashed the car.

He admitted he shouldn’t have been driving after drinking so much.

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

The defendant, who was not legally represented, said: “I don’t have an explanation why I was drink-driving. It was stupid.

“I have just been going through a bad time and I haven’t been thinking straight.”

Passing sentence, presiding magistrate, Mark Gear, said: “It’s a sad state of affairs. You made a poor choice. You decided to get in that vehicle.

“You are driving what is effectively a large missile that can cause a huge amount of damage.

“You had an accident. You left the vehicle. You were lucky you weren’t charged with leaving the scene.”

Birkett was banned from driving for 22 months, to be reduced by 22 weeks, if he completes the drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.

He was fined £923 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £369 victim surcharge.