A DRINK driver who crashed his car while over the limit has been banned from the road after appearing in court.

Barrow man Stephen Grainger, 52, faced the bench at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Abbey Road on Wednesday, charged with being almost three times the legal limit.

He was disqualified from driving for a total of 25 months.

The court heard how Grainger, a health care worker, crashed his car into a parked Mini Cooper in Prospect Road in Barrow on June 22.

The level of alcohol in his breath was recorded at 98 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit in breath is 35.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly told magistrates: "In the early hours of the day a road traffic collision occurred on Prospect Road.

"The defendant's car collided with a stationary Mini Cooper parked in the road.

"He said he had been at a friend' party and drunk six bottles of lager and a glass of Prosecco."

Mr Kelly said the defendant had tried to move his car from the scene and woke up the neighbours across the road because of the sound of the crash.

The prosecutor said Grainger told police that he had realised driving home was a silly thing to do.

In mitigation, solicitor Trystan Roberts said Grainger was remorseful after what happened and had acknowledged he made a mistake.

Mr Roberts said: "He is thoroughly ashamed of himself. He has acknowledged it was a silly decision by him.

"He had been at a friend's party and didn't feel heavily intoxicated and made the decision to drive.

"What he was trying to do was move the vehicle to a safer position

"This is a gentleman who is generally very responsible.

As well the ban Grainger, of Queen Street, was sentenced to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Sentencing Grainger, chair of the bench Christopher Harris told the defendant he would learn lessons from his experience in being brought to court.

Mr Harris said Grainger had made a 'silly mistake that no doubt you have learned from for the future'.

Grainger was also ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge and the same amount in prosecution costs.