A 41-YEAR-OLD man under the influence of drugs reversed more than 300 yards down a busy Blackburn road in the middle of the day.

Blackburn’s magistrates heard Darren Addison reversed straight through a busy mini roundabout and mounted the kerb several times during the incident which was witness by a police officer waiting in a queue on the opposite carriageway.

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Addison, of Angel Court, Darwen, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs.

He was remanded on bail until October 20 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. He was made subject to an interim disqualification.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the officer was on duty and stuck in traffic on Haslingden Road when he saw a Vauxhall Astra blocking the road.

The Astra then reversed on to the opposite carriageway and continued to reverse down Haslingden Road on the wrong side of the road.

He hit the kerb several times as he drove at between 15 and 20mph in reverse.

“He approached a very busy roundabout, still reversing down the wrong lane, and didn’t stop,” said Miss Allan.

“He mounted the kerb before reversing into Rockliffe Street where he parked up.”

Miss Allan said when the officer approached the car Addison stumbled as he got out and his speech was slow and slurred.

“He said it was as though he was struggling to concentrate and keep his eyes open,” said Miss Allan.

“Later, at the police station, he was taking an impairment test when he kept falling asleep.”

A subsequent blood test showed Addison had been taking amphetamine and Diazepam.

Paul Huxley, defending, said Addison’s car had been short of fuel and the engine started spluttering as he went up what is a steep hill.

“He was hoping to roll back to a flatter surface and get it started,” said Mr Huxley.

“He had taken some of his partner’s valium, thinking it was paracetamol.”