A MAN who caused a head-on crash on the A345 near Amesbury has been banned from driving for six months.

Barrie Trim, 60, admitted causing the crash by careless driving on October 28 last year at Low Flying Corner.

Salisbury Magistrates Court heard how he was overtaking a cyclist on a foggy Wednesday morning when he failed to return to the correct side of the road, smashing into an oncoming car at between 50mph and 60mph.

The force of the impact sent both cars spiralling off the road and into the verges on either side.

Although Trim suffered only minor injuries, the driver of the other car had to be cut free by firefighters.

He was transferred to Southampton General Hospital with severe leg injuries and spent three weeks recovering on a ward — missing the start of an online learning course.

The court heard how Trim, who suffers from bipolar disorder, had driven to Swindon on the night of the crash to see his cousin. He had been seeking legal advice the day before a meeting with human resources department at his work.

After deciding not to travel back that evening, he woke early to make the trip back to Poole — where he worked.

He says he had no recollection of the incident and can only remember seeing the flashing light of the oncoming silver VW Polo.

His next memory is of crawling away from the wreckage having suffered only bruising.

His consultant psychiatrist said that due to his bipolar disorder the meeting at work would have caused him more stress than most people.

Trim, of Evering Avenue, Poole, apologised for his actions and admitted that in the benefit of hindsight he should have cancelled the meeting.

Magistrates took into account his clean licence and early guilty plea. He was disqualified from driving for six months, fined £300, and told to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs.