A LORRY driver has had his licence revoked after admitting drug driving following a crash when his vehicle overturned near Orsett last year.

Shortly before 5pm on 2 September, police received reports of a single‑vehicle accident on the curve where the A1089 Dock Road merges with the eastbound A13.

The heavy goods vehicle had rolled over. Officers attended the scene and spoke with the driver, who was being treated by ambulance crew at the time.

The very curved approach road to the eastbound A13. Despite many roadside warnings to slow down the driver approached the sharpest point of the bend at 49mph and his vehicle toppled over.

The driver passed a roadside breath test but failed a drug wipe, which returned a positive reading for cocaine. As a result, the driver was taken to hospital where a blood sample was obtained for further analysis.

Subsequent examination of the driver's tachograph card showed that the vehicle was being driven at approximately 49mph at the timeit toppled over.

Analysis of the blood sample later confirmed the driver was almost five times over the legal limit for drugs.

The danger of the bend is clearly shown on the appraoch to it.

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Shane Houghton, 32, of Thames Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire, appeared at Southend‑on‑Sea Magistrates' Court on 13 April, where he admitted drug driving.

He was sentenced to:

• 100 hours of unpaid work
• A two‑year driving disqualification
• Court costs

Traffic officer PC Ben Houghton-Clarke said: "Drug driving is extremely dangerous and puts lives at risk. Substance use impairs judgement, slows reaction times and significantly reduce a driver's ability to control a vehicle - particularly something as large and heavy as an HGV.

"Drivers under the influence are far more likely to be involved in serious or fatal collisions, and the consequences can be devastating not only for them, but for other road users who have done nothing wrong.

"We will continue to take robust action against anyone who chooses to get behind the wheel while impaired. If you take drugs, do not drive - it really is that simple."