A SOLDIER who had been drinking crashed his car after he fell asleep while driving back to barracks, a court heard.

Magistrates at Harrogate heard yesterday how Steven Ralph fell asleep at the wheel of his Citroen Saxo car at about 7am on November 21 and crashed into a safety barrier.

Ralph, 20, admitted dangerous driving and drink-driving, after a breath test showed he exceeded the 35mg limit by 13mg.

Ralph, of Annandale Road, Greatfield Estate, Hull, who was based in Catterick Garrison, was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work with £50 costs.

He was also banned from driving for a year and told to take an extended test.

Vicky Lamballe, prosecuting, said Ralph had been heading north on the A1 at Melmerby, near Ripon, in a car that had bald tyres and missing wheel nuts. He told police he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Geoffrey Rogers, in mitigation, said Ralph had joined the Army from school.

Mr Rogers said Ralph had been home for a short break after 24 hours on duty.

He said he had drunk until midnight and while he felt tired when he left Hull at 6am, he believed the alcohol was out of his system.

When he felt tired he turned the car heater off and wound down his window to get some fresh air.

The court was told that he did not stop because he thought it would make him late back to barracks and lead to him being in trouble.