Drug driver 79 times over limit spared jail

A MOTORIST who rammed another car while driving at 79 times the drug-drive limit has avoided prison.

Lee Ainsworth was in a Ford Focus on the M3 when it hit the back of a Jaguar, injuring its driver and a passenger.

The 34-year-old suffered facial injuries and hospital tests revealed large amounts of Benzoylecgonine, a by-product of cocaine, in his blood.

He had 3,951mg per litre of blood of the drug, or 79 times the legal limit. It is one of the highest readings Hampshire Police has ever seen.

Appearing at Basingstoke magistrate’s court, Ainsworth, of Alton, Hampshire, admitted driving without due care and attention and while unfit

through drugs at 3.45pm on April 28. He was given a 12-month community order, disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work.

Christopher Pike, from the Hampshire Roads Policing Unit, said: ‘We were truly shocked when we received the test results. By getting behind the wheel that day, knowing how much he had taken, he showed total disregard for the lives of others and it is sheer luck that no one was killed.

‘This was on another scale to anything I have come across before and is one of the highest readings the force has seen.

‘We hope this case sends a strong message that we will continue to target those who keep on ignoring these laws.’

‘Highest Force has seen’