A DRUNKEN former lorry driver fled from the scene of a five-car crash after driving into the back of another car on the M50 in Herefordshire.

Ian Moore admitted drink-driving, failing to stop after a crash, and driving without due care and attention when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to reports of a crash involving five vehicles on the M50 at 7.25pm on January 27, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

It was reported that Ford Fiesta driver Moore had driven into the back of another car and driven off from the scene, while the other cars had crashed in an attempt to avoid the crash caused by Moore.

Moore and his car, which had the bumper hanging off, was found hours later, at around 10pm on the B4213. His first words to police were that he was drunk.

He was arrested after failing a roadside breath test and taken into custody, where an evidential breath test revealed he had 93 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

In interview, Moore admitted he had been drink-driving.

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Philip Cornell, for Moore, said the 50-year-old had worked as a lorry driver for 18 years, spending 15 years in his most recent job before leaving by mutual agreement on Christmas Eve as a result of stress and alcoholism after his divorce.

"He started counselling yesterday to seek help for this," Mr Cornell said.

Moore told the court he had spent the couple of hours between the crash and his arrest stopped on the side of the B4213.

"I was not stopped by police but made the decision to stop myself," Moore said.

Moore, of Arnold Street, Mountain Ash, was disqualified from driving for 24 months, received a community order, and was fined £200. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £95 victim surcharge.