A MOTORIST who crashed on the A68 was found to have a cocktail of drugs in his system, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Ian Atkinson of Roxburghe Place, Newtown St Boswells, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs on August 21.

The 42-year-old was disqualified from driving for 20 months and fined £300.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said a police mobile patrol was flagged down about 11.30am just outside Newtown St Boswells by a motorist who said there had been an accident nearby.

He explained: "They found that a crash barrier had been damaged and a Peugeot car was down the embankment.

"The vehicle was there for a a fortnight after.

"The accused was beside the car and he was clearly intoxicated.

"He appeared sleepy but confirmed he was the keeper of the car and had been driving.

"But he was clearly impaired by what he had taken.

"A blood test was taken from him and it included tamazepam, diazepam and two other drugs.

"None of these were high levels but they have a potentiating effect when mixed together.

"It clearly had an effect on the accused of being unfit to drive through drugs."

Defence lawyer Robert More said his client had been on medication at the time of the incident.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said that the accused had taken a cocktail of drugs which was dangerous when driving.