A MOTORIST who crashed while on cocaine, leaving his friend seriously injured, has avoided jail.

Darren Casey, from Worthing, crashed his Peugeot into the back of an Audi A4 on the A259 with more than three times the legal limit of cocaine in his system.

The 43-year-old has also taken the car without the owner’s consent.

Casey was driving near the Roundstone bypass at Angmering when he crashed into the back of the stationary vehicle.

The passenger, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered serious injuries which required surgery.

Two people in the Audi were also injured and both vehicles were written off in the crash on December 21, 2020.

Casey tested positive for cocaine afterwards.

Tests showed he had 33 micrograms of the drug per litre of blood. The legal limit is 10mg per litre of blood.

Police Constable Anthony Baker said Casey claimed to have taken cocaine two days previously, but remained more than three times over the legal limit for cocaine in his blood.

The owner of the Peugeot later confirmed that Casey did not have permission to drive it.

He was subsequently charged with taking the vehicle with lawful consent, causing injury to three people, drug driving, driving without due care and attention, driving without valid insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He was also charged with possession of a class A drug.

Casey, of Brighton Road, Worthing, pleaded guilty to all charges and was disqualified from driving for four years and was given an 18-week suspended prison sentence at Worthing Magistrates’ Court.

The court ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, 25 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions with the probation service and was fined £120.

He must also pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

PC Baker said: “Casey put the safety of other road users, his passenger and himself at risk when he drove that day and showed a complete disregard for the law.

“He took the vehicle, which he did not have permission to drive, nor insurance or a valid driving licence, and whilst still under the influence of cocaine.

“Drivers who decide to take drugs should be aware that the impact of drugs can still impair their ability to drive for a very long time afterwards.

“Drug driving is one of the major causes of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads and we will deal with offenders robustly.

“Casey should not have been on the road that day, and because of his carelessness he has caused two cars to be written off and caused injuries to his own passenger and the occupants of the other vehicle.

“This case also highlights the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt, and this conviction means a dangerous motorist has been removed from our roads."