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A lorry driver who caused a seven-vehicle crash while under the influence of cocaine has been disqualified from driving.

Alan Smith from Poynton, Stockport, failed to stop at the scene on the anti-clockwise carriageway of the M25, near the exit slip road for junction 22 for St Albans, on 24 February last year.

The 37-year-old initially pleaded not guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving, but changed his plea to guilty before his trial.

A judge at St Albans Crown Court banned him from driving for three-and-a-half years and gave him a 24-month suspended prison sentence.

Smith, 37, must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work, eight days of rehabilitation activity requirement and was ordered to pay £1,500 in prosecution costs.

Prior to the crash, which took place at about 06:30 GMT, the defendant - who was driving a blue MAN heavy haulage goods vehicle - had passed several slower moving vehicles, including a mobile crane and a white car in lane two.

He indicated and changed from lane three into lane two without making sufficient checks that it was safe to do so.

Smith collided with a grey Toyota Corolla on the near side, which span out of control across the carriageway, and a further five vehicles were then involved in the crash.

One vehicle was being driven by a man in his 60s who sustained life-threatening injuries.

Smith was arrested by police more than 100 miles (160km) from the scene and officers found him to be over the prescribed limit for cocaine.

Det Con Peter Hoddy, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Driving dangerously and driving under the influence of drugs will not be tolerated in Hertfordshire and those who commit such offences will be dealt with."

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