A DRUG-DRIVER who crashed into a parked car after falling asleep at the wheel has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Nicky Wilson, 39, was driving a Mercedes A-Class on Newlands Lane in Workington on August 31 last year.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates Court, said the driver of the vehicle behind Wilson saw his car start to swerve in the road, moving on to the centre lines.

The vehicle drove further down Newlands Lane and this time swerved across the centre lines. The driver of the vehicle behind ‘backed off’ because the driving ‘seemed to be getting worse’ and was becoming ‘unpredictable’.

Wilson’s vehicle then suddenly swerved to the left and crashed into a parked BMW, pushing it backwards. Wilson was then seen ‘staggering out’ of the car.

The owner of the BMW came outside and called the police.

An alcohol test on Wilson was negative but a drugs wipe gave a positive indication. A blood sample was taken at the police station which showed Wilson had 31mcg of cocaine per litre of blood. The specified limit is 10mcg.

Cannabis was also present in the defendant’s blood but this was under the limit.

Wilson was interviewed by police. He admitted driving the vehicle and said he had taken cocaine the previous night.

He believed his driving was ‘ok’ up until the moment of the crash.

A probation officer told the court that Wilson had taken cocaine the previous day and was still under the influence when he drove. He had fallen asleep at the wheel and crashed his vehicle.

He was now struggling with his mental health and had lost his job shortly after the offence.

Wilson, of Udale Court, Workington, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and using a motor vehicle on a road without insurance.

John Cooper, defending, said Wilson had entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity and had been out of trouble ‘for some time’.

Magistrates sentenced the defendant to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was banned from driving for 36 months and must complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Wilson was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.