A MAN has been fined over £1,000 by a court after his drug driving resulted in a road traffic collision with a lorry.

Daniel Harrison, 39, of Far Close Drive in Arnside, caused ‘extensive damage’ to his BMW 5 series when he smashed it into a waste disposal lorry on the A6 at Beetham on January 12 this year.

South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard the defendant had been driving over the legal limit when the lorry indicated to turn right into a side road.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said Harrison was arrested after officers conducted a roadside drug test which came back positive for Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol – the psychoactive substitute of cannabis.

The lowest reading of which was 2.5 ug/L. The legal ‘zero-limit’ reading is 2.0 ug/L.

On July 29, Harrison pleaded guilty to drug driving and driving without due care or attention.

The court heard the defendant had no previous convictions.

Harrison, who chose not to legally represented, told the court: “My partner died from cancer and I started using cannabis to deal with the situation in February 2023.

“It got out of control, and I ended up being irresponsible. She would be very disappointed in me. I have completely stopped smoking cannabis and cigarettes now.

“There are no particular circumstances that should let me off. I am sorry.”

Magistrates took into consideration all factors and as a result fined Harrison £1,005 for the two offences.

They also disqualified him from driving for 14 months and ordered that he pay a surcharge of £262 and court costs totalling £85 all within 28 days.