THE man who drove his car on to a busy city railway line causing delays of nearly an hour to rush hour services was struggling with depression.

Darren Wade, of Malvern Walk, Lower Broadheath, admitted driving his BMW off the level crossing at Henwick Road in St John’s, blocking the Worcester to Hereford track at 4am on Saturday, March 24.

The car ended up beached 15 yards from the crossing as reported in the Worcester News at the time.

Liam Finch, prosecuting, said: “A group of students on their way home in a taxi came across this man in a car on the railway.

"It appears he had passed the crossing and driven along the railway until his car had become stuck.”

The “concerned students” then called the police, averting “a very serious incident”.

A railway signalman was alerted and trains due to travel along the line were stopped.

When police got to the scene they found Wade, who “appeared very drunk” and when taken to the police station under arrest “his answers were unintelligible”.

Appearing at Worcester Magistrates Court on yesterday, he also admitted failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis to check if he had indeed been legally too drunk to drive.

Mr Finch reported the “unusual” incident had cost three rail operators a total of £6,500 from having to delay services, and led to early rail commuters suffering delays of between six and 59 minutes.

He said the “gravity of the situation” was obvious to everyone, given the line was open to rail traffic when he drove onto it.

David Howarth, Wade’s solicitor, said his client had broken his back in an accident a year ago, leading him into depression.

He said the 31-year-old had “voluntarily” checked in to the Newtown Hospital to help deal with “depression and paranoia”.

“He broke his back and didn’t go out for six months, which led to deteriorating mental health.”

His case was adjourned for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports with Wade due back before magistrates on Wednesday, July 11, to receive sentence.

• Were you one of the students who spotted the car?

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