A TYPE one diabetic whose driving licence had been revoked crashed his car while driving towards a roundabout at 55mph in snowy conditions, a court heard.

Daniel Durose, 33, had been driving a Volvo on the A595 at the Black Beck roundabout in Beckermet near Sellafield on February 29.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates’ Court, said the weather conditions were snowy and a road traffic collision had taken place.

Police were alerted to the collision and saw a vehicle had been abandoned on the roundabout. Durose was located at his home address.

He said he had been in a road traffic collision while driving. He said he lost control due to the snowy conditions and collided with road furniture.

His licence had been refused due to medical reasons and the vehicle had no insurance. He said he asked his girlfriend to pick him up after the accident and he made no efforts to contact police.

During interview, he made full admissions. He said he approached the roundabout at 55mph, despite the snowy conditions. He confirmed his driving licence was refused on medical grounds. After being cautioned, Durose stated that he was ‘an idiot’.

Ms Fee said the defendant would have been required to provide a sample of breath if he had been present at the scene.

Durose, who was not legally represented, said: “As far as the adverse weather conditions, it wasn’t snowing until very close to the Black Beck roundabout. There were various other accidents on that roundabout.

“This is my first offence. I have never set foot in a courtroom in my life. I can’t apologise enough for my stupidity.”

A probation officer told the court that Durose is type one diabetic and his licence was revoked nine months prior to the offence after he missed an eye screening. He continued paying for his insurance, although it was void.

He had been driving to work in Nether Wasdale for two months prior to the offence. It was a decision he felt was necessary to continue working but one he now regrets.

Durose had been travelling home from work and said there was another male who had crashed. The defendant said he wasn’t aware he would need to report the accident, believing it had been done by the other male.

He had been breathalysed and drugs tested at home and both were negative, the court was told.

Durose pleaded guilty to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance, driving a vehicle on a road without due care and attention, failing to stop after a road accident and being the driver of a vehicle involved in a road accident failing to report that accident.

Passing sentence, Heather Jackson-Stuttard, chair of the magistrates’ panel, said: “I’m sure you have learned a valuable lesson from this.”

Durose, of Sherwens Terrace, Egremont, was banned from driving for 12 months and his licence was endorsed. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £400 victim surcharge.