A TEENAGE boy fractured his skull after being thrown from a milk van, a court heard.

Milkman Stephen Colquhoun, 39, was delivering milk in a van with its side door open as a 15-year-old boy sat on top of a tower of crates in the back.

While driving in Larch Grove, Ulverston, the crates toppled over and the teenager fell from the van - fracturing his skull, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court was told.

Colquhoun, of Sharp Street, Askam, pleaded guilty to causing danger to a passenger.

Defence solicitor Trystan Roberts added: “He has expressed remorse and I can tell you his primary concern was for the young man who had been injured.

“The defendant is working two jobs due to the difficulties of the pandemic and has been struggling with furlough. As well as delivering milk, he works as a chef. The young man had being working for the company for some time. On this particular occasion, he had been sitting on crates at the back of the vehicle. When the vehicle went around a corner, the crates toppled over and the young man went out.

"Colquhoun immediately got out of the vehicle and took the young man to a friend’s house who had medical qualifications and as a result of this was taken to Furness General Hospital.

"His primary concern was for the young man and thankfully he made a full recovery, with no long-term difficulties and is back doing the same job.”

The court was told later in the day a saliva test by police discovered Colquhoun had consumed cannabis and was more than double the legal driving limit.

Mr Roberts explained Colquhoun used cannabis to 'calm his nerves' after the crash before driving to the police station.

He admitted drug driving and was disqualified for 12 months and hit with a £580 fine following the incident on October 22, 2020.