AN account manager from Clitheroe who crashed his car into a tree after flying in to Stansted Airport in Essex has been banned from driving and fined.

Christopher Russell, 51, of Chads Avenue, Chatburn, who was twice over the drink-drive limit, had underestimated how much he had drunk before boarding his flight from Norway to the UK, Chelmsford magistrates were told.

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Russell pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol on 24 August this year in Hall Road, Stansted, and was disqualified for 20 months and fined £750, with £165 costs.

Prosecutor Ian Allen said Russell's Vauxhall Insignia crashed into a tree while negotiating a right hand bend at 5pm.

He was taken to hospital for treatment by paramedics.

While there medics took a blood-alcohol reading of 164mg in 100ml of blood - the legal drink drive limit limit is 80.

Defending, Lorna Glover said Russell had returned from a weekend in Norway and had made a misjudgement.

She said: “He misjudged the amount of alcohol he consumed at the airport in Norway before boarding, a misjudgment which will now haunt him for some time.”

He had been driving home to Clitheroe, she added.

The court heard no other road users or passengers were involved.

He was remorseful and ashamed and it was totally out of character, said Miss Glover.