A DRINK driver from Woolavington who crashed his car in Walton asked a witness not to call the police because he would lose his job.

Tom Smith was then seen holding a small bag with Rizla papers sticking out and threw it onto a nearby grass verge.

When officers arrived along with an ambulance crew the defendant failed a roadside breath test, and when the bag was recovered it was found to contain cannabis.

Smith, a 36-year-old lorry driver, of Elm Lane, Woolavington, pleaded guilty to driving a BMW on Mildred Road in Walton on September 16 after consuming excess alcohol.

He also admitted being in possession of a quantity of cannabis (class B) when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

The court heard that a witness was travelling on the A39 at around midnight when she came across a BMW which appeared to have crashed.

“The rear end was back into a post, the front was pointing out into the road and the hazard lights were on,” said prosecutor Emma Lenanton.

“As she walked towards the vehicle she could hear music and saw damage to the front of the car of which Smith was the only occupant.

“Both airbags in the vehicle had been deployed and the defendant was raising his head on the front passenger seat and an ambulance was called.

“Smith got out and asked the witness not to ring anyone as he would lose his job and she then noticed he was holding a bag similar to a CD case and was looking inside it.”

The police arrived and the same bag was seen on the grass verge with some Rizla papers sticking out of it and the witness told them it belonged to the defendant.

When it was examined it was found to contain a cannabis grinder, papers and a Tupperware box containing green vegetable matter.

Smith confirmed he had been the driver, was unsteady on his feet and smelt of alcohol and then failed a breath test at the roadside.

He was taken to the police station and took a further test which produced a reading of 46mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg of alcohol.

Smith told the magistrates that he was sorry and remorseful, adding that he knew he had done wrong.

He was given a 14 month driving ban and fined £500 for the drink driving offence and no separate penalty was imposed for the drugs matter.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £50 victim surcharge.