A man found behind the wheel of a vehicle after being seen staggering around a West Cumbria shop car park has been given a driving ban.
Police were first alerted at 10am on Saturday, December 3 when it was reported that a male had been staggering around the B&M Bargains store car park in Maryport before getting into a Mini Cooper.
One officer conducted an area search and located the vehicle in a layby at Beckfoot, off the B5300 between Allonby and Silloth.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that it started to reverse towards a police vehicle.
The driver, 47-year-old Christopher Milnes, was asked to turn the engine off and exit the Mini. A prosecutor said he was unsteady on his feet and his eyes were glazed.
Milnes was arrested, taken into custody and found to have morphine in his system, a substance which the court was told can cause a lack of co-ordination, drowsiness and slow reactions.
He admitted driving while unfit through drugs. District Judge John Temperley was told that Milnes had two excess alcohol convictions which dated back to 2004 and 2020, and more recently, in March this year, had been given a 36-month ban for a drug-driving offence.
After hearing background information from a probation officer, the district judge imposed a 40-month driving disqualification.
Milnes, of Isabels House, between Allonby and Silloth, must also complete rehabilitation work with the probation service and pay a £400 fine.
