AN Iraq War veteran from Crewe took his wife's car and drove it off a country lane while he was over the drink drive limit, a court heard.

Joshua Bithell was struggling with mental health issues when he was found covered in blood in Butterton Lane in Oakhanger, walking away from the scene of the crash in which a stolen Seat Torroco had been flipped on its side.

Bithell, 32, of Edleston Road, Crewe admitted drink driving, aggravated vehicle taking and vehicle damage, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without third party insurance when he appeared at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court.

The court heard Bithell was arrested after giving a positive roadside breath test.

The vehicle, which had been taken from an address in Alsager, was "extensively damaged".

The defendant told police at the scene on October 2 last year: "I know I have done wrong, I take full responsibility. I took the car without permission, it's my wife's car."

Bithell gave a blood sample in custody which showed he had 90 mg of alcohol on 100 ml of blood; the legal limit is 80.

The court was told that the defendant took his partner's car to try and "do away with himself", by driving in an erratic manner.

Since the crash, the defendant has sought more help from mental health services and is paying for counselling from the charity MIND.

His problems were said to be linked to his war service between 2004 and 2010 when while he was serving in Basra he was exposed to "gratuitous violence", which left him with long-term PTSD, while he also had financial issues.

Magistrates agreed to adjourn sentencing until March 23 for the preparation of a probation report.

• A man who was found in possession of a knife on Crewe Railway Station during a British Transport Police Covid check faces a trial on a raft of charges, including those of domestic abuse.

Zac Cotton, 23, of no fixed abode, but formerly of Crewe, appeared by video link at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court.

He has entered not guilty pleas to two charges of assault by beating, one on February 15 this year and the other between September 30 and November 1 last year, criminal damage alleged between the same dates and a threat to destroy property between February 14 and 19 this year.

Cotton has admitted the knife offence committed on January 22 this year and offences of intimidating a witness between February 14 and 19 this year, sending threatening messages and harassment between the same dates.

District Judge Nick Sanders remanded him in custody ahead of a trial date set for Crewe on April 6 after which Cotton will be sentenced on all matters.