AFTER staying up all night to wait for a plumber, Peter Jones was exhausted when he set off for work, and blanked out at a roundabout. But he is not sure whether he fell asleep at the wheel or blacked out at a result of an earlier accident at work, Fenl

AFTER staying up all night to wait for a plumber, Peter Jones was exhausted when he set off for work, and "blanked out" at a roundabout.

But he is not sure whether he fell asleep at the wheel or blacked out at a result of an earlier accident at work, Fenland magistrates were told on Tuesday.

During the work accident he was hit on the head, causing his protective helmet to split, and he suffered concussion, said solicitor John Clarke.

Jones, 40, of Wenny Estate, Chatteris, admitted driving without due care and attention on the A141 on June 23.

He also admitted driving when disqualified and without insurance. He had failed to take en extended re-test when a 12-month ban for dangerous driving came to an end in 2001.

Prosecuting, Nicola Ebbs said a Ford Transit belonging to Durman Stearn and driven by Jones veered towards a tipper, and there was a collision at Guyhirn roundabout.

Police found Jones staggering around in the road. He had suffered cuts from glass.

Jones told police he had been up all night waiting for a plumber, because there was a leak in his house.

In mitigation, John Clarke said Jones had misunderstood the law, and thought he could drive at the end of his ban.

"He had a flood in his house and he was up all night, the children were upset and he had no sleep," he said.

"He had to get up at 5.30am to go to work, and thinks he blanked out."

Jones was given unconditional bail until February 15, when a report will be considered by the court.