THE driver of a Honda Civic car involved in a collision with another vehicle in Grassington Road, Skipton had been drinking and taking drugs, heard magistrates.

Joshua Hames, 28, had to be taken to hospital with minor injuries following the collision on October 24, while the driver of the other car also sustained injuries, the Skipton court was told on Friday.

Hames had been reported by a witness as hitting the kerb with his vehicle before the collision.

Hames failed a roadside breath test and was taken to hospital where a blood test later revealed he had 142 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit is 80; and also 199 microgrammes of the cocaine derivative, Benzoylecgonine per litre of blood; the specified limit is 50.

Hames, who admitted drink driving, drugs driving, and driving without due care and attention, made full admissions to police, but had little recollection of what had happened, the court was told.

Unrepresented in court, Hames, an agency chef, of Sandford Road, Kirkstall, said he had made a 'terrible mistake', should not have done what he did, but could not change it.

For drink driving, he was banned for 20 months, and fined £538. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £53. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by 20 weeks.

For drugs driving, he received a 12 month ban to run concurrently, at the same time. There was no separate penalty for driving without due care, but his licence will be endorsed.