IT WAS an unfortunate twist of fate for an Isle of Wight man — caught over the drug-drive limit after a van driver crashed into his car.

Lee Critchley was banned from driving for a year after he admitted drug-driving on St George's Way, Newport, on the evening of May 5.

Police attended the two-vehicle collision at around 7.30pm.

Critchley, of Broadway Crescent, Binstead, was driving a blue Ford car, when a van pulled out in front of him — the collision causing the van to flip onto its side, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, on Monday.

He was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving after an alcohol breath test proved negative.

The 40-year-old was subsequently given a blood test — the reading being 5.9ug/l of a cannabis derivative. The legal drug-drive limit for cannabis is 2.0ug/l.

Critchley's criminal record includes a drink-drive conviction in 2006.

Mrs Smout said she was unable to comment on the standard of Critchley's driving as someone had pulled out in front of him.

For Critchley, Oscar Vincent said his client was ironically employed as a driver, and he was anxious to stress to the court he had not used cannabis on the day of the accident.

"His first thought was the welfare of the other driver — to make sure he was OK — by staying with him until the police arrived," explained Mr Vincent. He was fully co-operative throughout."

Critchley was also fined £120, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.