A banned driver who crashed on a rural north Cumbria road as he fell asleep at the wheel after a night shift must now serve another disqualification.
Luis Costa, 54, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today after an incident north-west of the city on the morning of Friday April 18.
Police officers were called to the village of Burgh-by-Sands at around 11am where they found Costa.
He said that he had fallen asleep, and had crashed an Audi A3, which went on to a verge, between Drumburgh and Monkhill, before coming to rest on its roof.
He received an injury to his hand.
When interviewed by police, Costa spoke of having earlier worked a night shift. He was tired but had not slept, and instead agreed to take a friend of his to work before the incident occurred.
Costa admitted dangerous driving, and extra charges of driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
Defence solicitor Duncan Campbell said Costa, of Warwick Road, Carlisle, mistakenly believed that a previous driving ban had ended, and that he was properly insured to drive that morning.
He had not sought to evade justice and had actually asked the driver of a vehicle travelling behind his — which was not involved in the crash — to call police.
Costa, a man in stable employment, was given a community order comprising 130 hours’ unpaid work.
Costa must serve a 12-month driving ban and is now under a legal duty to pass an extended retest before his licence is returned. He must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 mandatory surcharge.
