A DRINK-DRIVER crashed on his way to hospital in Herefordshire after hurting his foot at work, a court has been told.

Deon Ryder admitted drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to reports of a crash involving Ryder's Citroen Dispatch on the A40 in Herefordshire just before 9pm on July 7, prosecutor Melanie Winterflood said.

The driver of the other car involved said Ryder had been looking down into the footwell of his car as he came towards him on the wrong side of the road.

He stopped and sounded his horn, but Ryder drove into his car, hitting the side and coming to a stop on the verge.

Ryder told the other driver that he was sorry and offered to pay for the damage, but was arrested after police were called and he failed a roadside breath test.

An evidential breath test revealed he had 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

In interview, he told police he had drunk three beers and a double Jack Daniels and coke that day.

He said he had sprained his ankle and had been looking down as it was causing him pain and his foot had slipped off the pedal.

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Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Ryder, said the 27-year-old had fully accepted what he had done.

"He says he hurt his foot while working that day," she said.

"He had gone back to his hotel after work and had a few drinks due to the pain, but then decided he needed medical assistance and chose to drive to the hospital. He was then looking down at his foot and crashed."

The court heard Ryder has lost his job as a result of the offence.

Ryder, of Broad Court Mews, Bridgtown, Cannock, was fined £120 and disqualified from driving for 18 months. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £48 victim surcharge.