A "reckless" driver who caused a seven-vehicle crash on the M25 near St Albans has been banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.

Alan Smith, 37, from Stockport, was under the influence of cocaine when he collided with a car which span out of control across the carriageway. 

It happened on the anticlockwise carriageway shortly before 6.27am on February 24 last year, near the exit slip road at junction 22.

Five other cars were involved - one of which was being driven by a man in his 60s who suffered life-threatening injuries but survived.

Smith, who was driving a blue MAN heavy haulage goods vehicle, did not stop at the scene and continued to drive for over 100 miles.

When he was stopped by police, officers found him to be over the prescribed limit for cocaine.

In October of last year, he pleaded not guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving but later changed his plea to guilty ahead of standing trial.

On July 10, he appeared at St Albans Crown Court and was handed a suspended sentence of 24 months, forced to do 150 hours of unpaid work and eight days of rehabilitation activity, as well as pay £1,500 in rehabilitation costs.

Detective Constable Peter Hoddy said: "While the pain and suffering for those involved in the collision will be hard to forget, I hope that this result from the court has sent out a strong warning to anyone who believes they are above the law.

"Driving dangerously and driving under the influence of drugs will not be tolerated in Hertfordshire and those who commit such offences will be dealt with."