A NORTH Cumbrian teacher was left partially impaled on a metal railing after he crashed near Penrith while drink driving.

The piece of metal that sliced through 23-year-old Tyler Wilson’s leg narrowly missed an artery, Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard. The defendant admitted drink driving.

Prosecutor George Shelley described what happened.

It was shortly after midnight on May 7 when Wilson was driving from the A686 on to the Kemplay Bank Roundabout on the outskirts of Penrith. While doing this, he “lost control” of his VW Golf.

“The car collided with the [roadside] metal railings, which impaled the defendant’s upper leg,” said Mr Shelley. Because he was trapped in the car, paramedics and doctors treated Wilson at the scene before he was freed by firefighters.

“The defendant smelled of alcohol,” continued Mr Shelley. A roadside breath test produced a reading of 59mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath; the legal limit for driving is 35mcg.

A later blood test at hospital confirmed that alcohol was present in Wilson’s blood at a concentration of 123mcg in every litre. The legal limit in blood for driving is 80mcg.

Kate Hunter, for Wilson, of Rydal Court, Penrith, said that the defendant had been “sober by choice” during the seven months before the incident but on the evening in question he went to the pub with friends.

He had one pint, and then while at the pub discovered that he had been a target for online “harassment” from school students. This affected him and led to his error of judgement - the decision to drink more and then drive.

He was seriously hurt.

Wilson had been lucky that the metal which cut into his leg had narrowly missed an artery. Whilst his physical health was now okay, he had not entirely recovered from the effect of what happened on his mental health.

“He has not lost his job,” continued Miss Hunter.

“The school is very supportive of him, which reflects how they view him as an employee and as a person." Wilson knew he faces a ban but he was willing to take a drink driver rehabilitation course if it was offered.

Magistrates said they were prepared to offer the course and to impose the minimum ban that must be given for drink driving, a 12-month disqualification. 

Wilson must also pay a fine and costs totalling £583.

If the defendant completes the rehabilitation course within a stated deadline, this will reduce the length of the ban by three months.