Accrington driver crashed car into metal fence after snorting cocaine

Blackburn magistrates heard paramedics discovered Stephen Barton had an “extremely high” heart rate and asked if he had been taking drugs.

He replied “a lot” and when asked how much said “two lines.”

Barton, 35, of Lydia Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to drug driving, He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 120 hours unpaid work.

He was disqualified for 20 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said it had been a serious drug driving offence.

“It’s not clear whether the collision was due to your epilepsy or the drugs,” said District Judge Preston.

“You weren’t taking the medication you should have been and you were taking drugs. You were lucky there were no injuries to any third party.”

Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said a member of the public called in a single vehicle collision on Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, at 10.40pm. A Citroen Berlingo had collided with a metal fence and stopped when hitting a lamp post.

“The witness said she had found the defendant in his vehicle apparently having a seizure,” said Miss Mills.

When paramedics arrived Barton initially refused to get into the ambulance.

“The paramedics eventually discovered he had an extremely high heart rate,” said Miss Mills.

“An initial drugs wipe came back negative but his behaviour was such the police believed he was under the influence of drugs. It is not known whether the accident was brought about by the seizure or the drugs.”

She said the defendant’s licence had been revoked because of his epilepsy.

Richard Prew, defending, said since the commission of the offence his client had served a significant prison sentence for other matters.

“He is an electrician by trade and if he comes through this successfully he hopes to go back to that,” said Mr Prew. “At the moment he is working through his issues.

“His seizure and epilepsy were the major cause of the collision rather than the cocaine.”