A DRINK driver who collided head-on with another motorist after swerving on to the wrong side of the road has been banned from driving.

Pavelas Gorbik, 24, of Longway, Barrow, crashed into Mr Connolly on the A5087 Coast Road between Barrow and Ulverston on February 8.

The 24-year-old Lithuanian pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without due care and attention at Furness Magistrates' Court. When tested, he was found to have 116 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, when the legal limit is 80 milligrammes.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, told the court that as the other motorist approached a bend in the road, he noticed another vehicle that was heading straight in his direction. He braked as hard as he could but could not avoid a collision as there was no attempt by the other driver to try and move out of the way.

He was winded by the impact but stumbled out of the car with the help of a wagon driver who saw the crash. The witness noticed Gorbik attempting to flee the scene of the accident by running towards the beach, but members of the public convinced Gorbik to return to his car until police arrived.

The court was also told that the injured man suffered with ankle and neck pain following the crash and has difficulty sleeping due to anxiety.

Miss Amy Watkin, defending, said: "Mr Gorbik had gone for a drive to put some space between him and his partner after the two had a heated argument.

"He accepts that on the day he had consumed alcohol but he had been to sleep in-between consuming and driving. He wishes to make clear that if he had known he was over the limit he would not have got in the car.

"He does not accept that that he was trying to get away from the situation, instead he says that he was in shock at having just been involved in a collision."

Presiding magistrate Chris Harris suspended Gorbik from driving for 14 months and fined him a total of £515.