A MAN who turned to drink after being made redundant from Leyland Trucks went back on the wagon after being seriously injured in a hit and run involving an articulated lorry.

Blackburn magistrates heard that in between the two traumatic events, Nicholas Paul Livesey was caught stealing a bottle of wine from Lidl.

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Livesey, 50, of France Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to shoplifting. He was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client had periods in his life, usually brought on by stressful events, when he was an alcoholic.

“To his credit, he usually manages to pull himself together and get over it,” said Mr Pickup.

“In December, he was made redundant from his job at Leyland Trucks and, as a result, he turned to alcohol. He was having seizures if he didn’t drink and it was against that background he committed this offence at 8am.”

Mr Pickup said that eight days after the offence Livesey, who appeared in court on crutches, was knocked over by the articulated lorry and since then had spent all his time in various hospitals.

“The only positive to come from that incident is that my client hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol in the three months since it happened,” said Mr Pickup.