A YOUNG motorist has admitted he was driving dangerously when he hit a man using a pedestrian crossing.

Alexander Lee Hall has previously also admitted he was over the limit to drive because of the cannabis in his system at the time, 7mg compared to the legal limit of 2mg.

Now, the 20-year-old, of Oakwood Close, Sacriston, may be facing a prison sentence, following his admissions at hearings before magistrates, and now at Durham Crown Court.

Hall, then aged 19, was at the wheel of a grey Citroen C3 which struck the man on the crossing on the A690, at Meadowfield, near Durham, on Monday November 11, last year.

The pedestrian suffered a head injury in the collision, at about 8.15pm, that evening.

Having admitted the drug driving charge at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, on September 30, the case was sent to Durham Crown Court, where Hall yesterday also admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

His counsel, Tony Davis, asked for preparation of a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service, before his client returns to court, to learn his fate.

“He’s a man from a good family with no previous convictions who had a significant, yet momentary, lapse in judgement and would benefit from the input of the Probation Service.”

Mr Davis said a number of character references would be presented to the court on Hall’s behalf, at the sentencing hearing.

Judge James Adkin agreed to allow the adjournment and asked for an update to the victim’s impact statement to see how well he has recovered from his injuries in the past year.

The judge said: “It’s a serious case. There’s a lot at stake for the defendant.

“The vast majority of people facing serious injury by dangerous driving go to prison in these courts.

“I’m interested in his background and the background to the offence before I see how I deal with this case.

“He was driving along, smoking cannabis, playing loud music with his mates in the car when he hit this unfortunate man on a pedestrian crossing.

“It sounds a bit unprepossessing, quite frankly.”

Judge Adkin told Hall: “All sentencing options remain open when you come back before the court, including prison.”

He bailed Hall to return for sentence on November 13.