Uninsured driver caught with drugs

A DRIVER caught at the wheel while uninsured was also found with two types of illegal drugs on board, a court heard.

Stephen Cockburn, 45, of Ash Grove, Whitburn, South Tyneside, believed he was covered to drive his used camper van.

But he was not – and police pulled him over when their electronic automatic number plate recognition system flagged him up.

They nabbed him on the John Reid Road dual carriageway in South Shields, on Friday, November 6.

A search of the vehicle first revealed cannabis and then amphetamine, both illegal Class B substances.

Cockburn has now been fined and handed six penalty points after pleading guilty to two drug possession charges and driving without insurance.

Prosecutor Paul Doney told magistrates in South Tyneside: “At 6.15pm an officer was on the John Reid Road when his attention was drawn to a Fiat Ducato.

“It followed the automatic recognition showing that no insurance was in place.

“He stopped the vehicle, and it was confirmed that he didn’t have a valid policy of insurance.

“The officer could smell cannabis, and the defendant said that there was some in the car.

“Amphetamine was also found. The drugs were for the defendant’s own use.”

Val Bell, defending, said: “Mr Cockburn has pleaded guilty immediately for all matters. He was compliant.

“He is currently unemployed but has worked most of his adult life. The pandemic has affected his employment.

“He is not someone who set out to drive without insurance. He has a car and is fully insured.

“He bought a camper van with the intention of doing it up.

“A friend has said that he would put him on his trades’ policy and that he would be covered.

“He failed to make checks, and he wasn’t covered, although he thought that he was.

“Clearly he’s aware that his driving licence will be endorsed with penalty points.”

Magistrates fined Cockburn £120 for driving without insurance, with £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

He was fined £40 for possession of cannabis but there was no separate penalty for the amphetamine.