A DRINK driver who crashed as he tried to drive along a busy north Cumbrian road was knocked out and suffered serious injuries.

Matthew Donald Errington, 31, was thrown from his Citroen car after it clipped the kerb and crashed into a wall after leaving the A69 at Corby Hill. Witness found him unconscious nearby.

At Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court, Errington, formerly of Westwood, Morton, Carlisle, admitted drink driving.

Prosecutor John Moran described the accident on February 21, and how the Citroen collided with a building.

Opening the case, Mr Moran said: "There were some witnesses. They saw the vehicle swerving all over the road and then disappear.

"The same vehicle was then seen to have collided with a building. The driver was the defendant.

"He was unconscious, and had to be taken to hospital."

In hospital, Errington was heard to say: "I've obviously had too much to drink."

A blood test showed he had 155mg of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The legal limit for alcohol is 80mg. Errington was prosecuted for drink driving in 2017, added the prosecutor.

Steven Marsh, defending, said the defendant had limited recollection of the accident but recalled visiting his mother and then going to the pub with a friend.

Mr Marsh said Errington had suffered some serious injures in the crash.

These included a broken hip, an injured lower arm, and a dislocated shoulder requiring surgery.

He initially had to use a wheelchair when he came out of hospital.

Errington was due to go to a hospital in Newcastle for a further scan due to ongoing symptoms, said the lawyer.

Mr Marsh added: "He also had a head injury, which may explain his lack of memory about the accident."

The Citroen was written off and Errington was unable to return to his job, causing financial loss.

After hearing about the case, District Judge Gerald Chalk fined the defendant £150 and ordered that he pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

The judge added: "I am disqualifying you for a period of 45 months. I am not prepared to offer you the [drink driver] rehabilitation course.

"This is your second conviction in a short time. I suspect that even after 45 months the DVLA will probably require medical evidence as they'll suspect you have a problem with alcohol. I think you need to think about that yourself."