Over drug limit from smoking night before

A DRIVER was caught over the limit for cannabis after he smoked the drug the night before and drove, a court heard.

Police smelt cannabis in Stephen Harpur’s red Skoda Fabia and recovered a small amount of it from the driver’s seat.

He was tested for cannabis in his blood and he was just over the specified limit on June 12 last year.

Harpur, 40, of Nesbitt Street, Sutton-in-ashfield, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis in Brick Kiln Lane, Mansfield, and driving the Skoda when cannabis in his blood exceeded the specified limit.

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard, in mitigation, that he had pleaded guilty on the first occasion. He had smoked cannabis the night before and had driven the following day - not believing he would be over the limit and it would be in his system. He is now aware that would not be the case, the court was told.

Harpur had just finished work and had gone and bought more cannabis for his personal use.

The court heard he is now on Job Seeker’s Allowance and had previously worked in construction.

The judge gave him full credit for his guilty plea.

For the drug driving he gave him a £120 fine and an £80 fine for possessing cannabis. A victim surcharge was imposed of £34. He will also have to pay £85 prosecution costs.

The judge said the offence came before a 15-month disqualification for drink-driving.

Harpur had been bailed to attend those proceedings and failed to do so on June 14, 2017. Had he attended and been dealt with, the judge said the conviction would have been an aggravating feature in the case.

He imposed a three-year discretionary disqualification for drug-driving.