A FORMER Carlisle United footballer has been told he could go to prison after he admitted drink driving over a crash which left a former Blues defender seriously injured.

Tom Lawrence, who played 11 games for The Blues on loan between 2013 and 2014, appeared alongside Derby County teammate Mason Bennett.

The paid were detained by police after the incident on the A6 near Allestree, Derby, shortly before midnight on September 24.

Both players admitted drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident when they appeared at Derby Magistrates Court today.

Midfielder Lawrence, 25, recorded a breath test reading of 58 microgrammes per 100ml and forward Bennett, 23, recorded a level of 64. The legal limit is 35.

Club captain Richard Keogh - who played more than 90 games for Carlisle between 2007 and 2010 - suffered a serious leg injury in the crash, involving a Range Rover Sport and a Mercedes, and could be ruled out for the rest of the season.

District Judge Jonathan Taaffee told the players that, as passengers were in the cars and the defendants left the scene, all options remained open, including a prison sentence.

He said: "I have to consider whether a custodial sentence is merited."

The district judge added: "There is evidence of unacceptable levels of driving, although there is no charge in relation to that."