A BRITPOP star has appeared in court charged with drug-driving following a Land Rover crash.
Paul Draper – lead singer of 1990s band Mansun – was arrested at a service station on the M25 after the smash on July 26.
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A member of the public had called police as they believed Draper was “intoxicated”.
The 54-year-old appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court charged with driving a vehicle while unfit through drugs.
According to the charge, Draper drove the Land Rover while “unfit to drive through drugs Contrary to section 4(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.”
He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing, Mail Online reports.
Prosecutor Umar Khan said: “Officers were called by a member of the public because a vehicle had been involved in a collision and they believed the driver was intoxicated.
“PC Lee Doherty assessed the demeanour of the driver and suspected he was under the influence and admissions are made by Mr Draper at the roadside for prescription drugs.”
Draper was taken to hospital where a blood test confirmed the presence of prescription drugs under the legal limit, it was said.
The court was told there was also no alcohol in his system and the case will rely on the “observations of PC Doherty and the CCTV, which captures the demeanour of the defendant”.
Draper was bailed to return to court for trial on October 30.
The singer shot to fame in 1995 with Mansun, who were best known for songs such as I Can Only Disappoint U, Wide Open Space and Stripper Vicar.
Mansun was made up of Draper, Stove King, Dominic Chad, Carlton Hibbert, Mark Swinnerton, Julian Fenton and Andie Rathbone.
At the height of their success, the band’s 1997 album Attack Of The Grey Lantern knocked Blur off the UK number one spot.
The band announced they had split in 2002 – with Draper later releasing a number of solo singles.
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