A SELLAFIELD team leader was found to be more than three times the drink-drive limit at the roadside after crashing into a trailer.

Police were called to a road traffic collision on the A595 at Bigrigg on September 21 last year. An Audi vehicle had driven into a parked trailer in a layby, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

The driver, Leonard Raynor, 58, was being assessed by the ambulance service when officers arrived.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said a witness had described the Audi pulling out in front of her, causing her to ‘brake heavily’. She then saw the car had crashed into a layby.

Another driver said they had seen the Audi driving on the wrong side of the road, before moving back on to the correct side of the carriageway and then crashing into a trailer.

Raynor was breathalysed at the roadside and gave a reading of 115mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35mcg.

He was taken to West Cumberland Hospital and his condition deteriorated. He was then transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

A blood sample procedure was carried out in hospital which confirmed alcohol was over the limit. The reading was 83mcg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mcg.

The defendant, who had no previous convictions, suffered multiple serious injuries.

David Martin, defending, said: “Mr Raynor is extremely grateful that nobody else was injured in this incident.

“There is an undercurrent of depression at the time. He was consoling himself by drinking some alcohol, exacerbated further by the breakdown of his marriage.

“He had an accident and spent two months in the RVI, where he has contemplated his life. He feels much better now, mentally and physically.

“His family and friends and employer have rallied round. He is hoping to start back at work next week. He is a team leader at Sellafield.

“He has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He has given up driving, for the time being.”

Raynor, of Scalegill Place, Moor Row, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with alcohol level above the limit.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month driving ban, to be reduced by three months, if he completes the drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.

He was fined £214 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £86 victim surcharge.