A PENSIONER who crashed on the M6 after falling asleep at the wheel has been sentenced for dangerous driving.

Paul Sutherland, 76, was travelling home from a sailing trip in Scotland on May 25 earlier this year when he crashed his Alfa Romeo vehicle into the central reservation, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the collision occurred at Crooklands near junction 36 of the M6 around 2:45 pm.

Mr Dacre said: “The defendant was travelling in lane two and failed to steer or adjust to a bend in the road. Members of the public witnessed his vehicle moved into the third lane before crashing into the central reservation.

“The defendant pulled into the hard shoulder and the airbags were deployed.”

The court heard Sutherland had pulled into Tebay services and slept for between 35 to 40 minutes due to feeling tired a short time before the crash.

In mitigation, Lisa Phizacklea said her client ‘momentarily fell asleep’.

She added: “He had stopped twice prior to this incident happening. He had some insight into how he was feeling at the time.

“He tells me he was driving at 60 mph in cruise control in the inside lane with the radio on when the accident happened. He acknowledges he must have nodded off.

“He is a man who has never troubled the court before. He has also had a clean licence since he started driving.

“He previously worked as an advanced trainer for the prevention of accidents. He has shown a great deal of deep remorse and acknowledges things could have been a whole lot worse.”

The court was told the amount of damage caused to the central reservation was unknown.

Chair of the bench Charles Crewdson sentenced Sutherland, of Watling Court, Hadrian Way, Sandiway, Northwich, to a 12-month community order with one requirement of completing 100 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Crewdson told the defendant: “I am sure you are well aware that your punishment dances on a pin because of what could have happened.

“If you had made connection with another vehicle you would be across the custody threshold. You should be feeling extremely lucky.

"We are to sentence you for a split second decision. That was a wrong decision. It was dangerous. You were travelling at between 60 and 70 mph in an uncontrolled manner. Thankfully nothing more serious happened.”

Sutherland was also banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pass an extended retest.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge.