Man lost job after taking drugs for first time on stag

A motorist who snorted cocaine on a stag do cried when he realised he would lose his £46,000-ayear job as he was banned from driving.

Martyn Holder, from Canterbury, had been “persuaded” to take two or three lines of the drug with friends as a “one-off” during the boozy weekend. But just a few days later, the 49-year-old asbestos remover crashed his Vauxhall into the back of another vehicle on the A2 near Bean, Dartford. When police arrived at the scene and carried out a saliva test on him, it proved positive for cocaine.

Holder was arrested and taken to a police station. A further blood test revealed he was over the drug-drive limit for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine breakdown product.

The Franklyn Road resident was charged with drug-driving and pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared in the dock at Margate Magistrates Court on February 13. Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, told magistrates Holder rearended the other vehicle as traffic slowed in front of him at about 5.30pm on August 10 last year.

The blood test revealed a reading of 262 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50 microgrammes per litre of blood.

Magistrates were also told after taking cocaine, benzoylecgonine increases in blood levels as the cocaine

wears off and it takes a long time to get out of the body’s system.

Miss Farbrace added: “He made a full account to officers and he has one previous conviction, but that was from 2004, so he can be treated as a man of good character. He has a full licence.”

John Violaris, defending, told the court his client had taken the drug five nights before the crash and that it was the first time he had ever done so. Mr Violaris said: “He had been on a stag weekend with friends and was persuaded to take it after alcohol. It was a one-off.

“A motorcyclist also went into the back of his vehicle. The accident wasn’t his fault, but the insurance company is now battling it out. “Furthermore there was no impairment - it was just the breakdown substance. He wasn’t aware of what was going on in his body.

“He has been an asbestos remover for 15 years and requires his licence or he will lose his job and income. “He earns £46,000 a year and he has no savings. He will have to claim benefits.”

It was at this point Holden cried in the dock as he realised he would indeed lose his job and earnings as he was going be banned from the road. Magistrates told him they had no option but to disqualify him from driving as the offence carried a mandatory ban. They said his mitigation made no difference to their decision and they also commented it had been an “expensive stag do” for him.

Holder was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £80. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32 and £85 court costs.

The bench agreed he could repay the amount he owed the court at £20 a month as he would now be making a claim for benefits.

‘He had been on a stag weekend with friends and was persuaded to take the cocaine after alcohol...’

Martyn Holder crashed his vehicle into the back of another on the A2 near Bean and was found to be over the drug-drive limit

Martyn Holder admitted drug-driving when he appeared in court