A drink-driver who crashed into an oncoming vehicle as he overtook a bus on a main north Cumbria road has been banned and ordered to abide by a night time curfew.
Ryan Little, aged 44, was travelling northbound, in a Volkswagen Tiguan, along the A596 in the area of Aspatria on September 24. The driver of a second vehicle was heading south in a BMW X5.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard Little attempted to overtake a bus and moved on to the opposite side of the road ‘with no caution’. His Volkswagen crashed into the BMW, whose driver sustained minor injuries.
Police officers called to the scene suspected could smell alcohol and suspected Little was not fit to drive. He did not provide a specimen of breath at the scene.
Little, of Springfields, Wigton, was taken to Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary. An evidential blood specimen showed 139 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mlg.
He pleaded guilty to drink-driving. The court heard his life had previously spiralled after he lost his job due to a spinal cord injury, resulting in alcohol having a negative impact.
In his letter to the court, Little wrote: “I understand the seriousness of this (drink-driving offence) and the risk I posed to others.” He added: “I am truly sorry for my actions.”
Magistrates imposed a community order through which Little must complete a 30-day electronically monitored night time curfew.
He was banned from driving for 17 months but accepted the offer of a rehabilitation course. If completed on time, that will reduce the length of disqualification by 17 weeks.
