A Three Peaks Challenge walker who caused a crash when he fell asleep at the wheel of his car may escape his sentence.

Ben Nevis, which Campbell had summited before his crash

Neil Campbell, of Kelty, Fife, caused serious injuries to a Cumbrian woman when he collided with the car she was in, after he had summited two of the three mountains in the event.

Campbell was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving. But the judge, Recorder Teresa Pepper, was told because Campbell lives in Scotland, it was unclear whether a suspended sentence could be passed under English law. He was also told to do 80 hours’ unpaid community work. The case, at Preston Crown Court, was adjourned for legal advice.

The court heard that the defendant was sharing driving duties with another man taking part in the challenge. They had completed the ascents of Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike and were heading south to Snowdon.

The accident at Foxfield, near Broughton-in-Furness, left Janet Nicholson, with multiple injuries, using walking sticks for three months, and needing staples in a head wound.

Despite telling police after the accident that he could not find anywhere to pull in and sleep, there was a lay-by a mile-and-a-half before the site of the collision. It was also stated in court that Campbell had three previous speeding penalties. Sentence was adjourned and the defendant was granted bail.

The Three Peaks Challenge, in which competitors have to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, often raising money for charity, causes immense problems for residents at the foot of the peaks and for rescue organisations which have to go to the aid of competitors, who often have little or no hillwalking experience.