A 45-YEAR-OLD man who had been drinking in Blackpool fell asleep and crashed his car as he travelled home to Darwen along the M65.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ragunathan Magendran planned to spend the night in the seaside town but had got in his car after his wife phoned him and said she needed him at home.

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Magendran, of Laurel Avenue, Darwen, admitted driving with excess alcohol. He was made subject to community supervision for six months and fined £110 with £105 costs.

He was banned from driving for 40 months after the magistrates heard he was banned for drink driving in 2013 and only recently had his licence back.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said police responded to a report of a collision on the M65 at 2am. Magendran was still at the scene and said he must have fallen asleep.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had been to Blackpool with friends and had been drinking. He had gone to sleep at a friend’s house when his wife called in the early hours saying she was suffering from a migraine and needed him home.

“He’s not sure exactly what happened but he did lose control of the car,” said Mr Taylor.