Biker had a dozen drugs in his system

A Perth motorcyclist seen sitting on his bike in a supermarket car park was“barely able to stand,” the sheriff court was told this week.

And when police spoke to 34-year-old Michael Cuthbert, of Ruthven Crescent, he appeared very drowsy, his speech was slurred and the pupils of his eyes were like pin-points.

He subsequently gave a urine sample and when analysed it revealed he had 12 different drugs in his system.

The substances included methadone, morphine, codeine and diazepam, depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told Perth Sheriff Court.

He had an interim driving ban imposed by Sheriff William Wood and will discover his fate on March 14 after a background report has been prepared.

Cuthbert admitted being in charge of the bike in the Morrison’s car park, Caledonian Road, Perth, on April 6 last year while unfit through drink or drugs.

The fiscal said police were flagged down by a member of the public shortly before 8.30pm.

That person pointed to two males who were sitting on top of a motorcycle.

As officers approached, one of the men ran off but the second was sitting on the bike, trying to start the engine.

He tested negative for alcohol but it was suspected his condition might be connected to drugs.

He was arrested and taken to Perth police headquarters where he provided a urine sample.

Solicitor Paul Ralph said his client was on a methadone prescription, suffered from epilepsy and took other medication.

Deferring sentence for a background report, Sheriff Wood said he wasn’t anticipating imposing a custodial sentence.

“Because of the concentration of drugs, however, it’s appropriate we get a Community Justice Social Work report to see what sentencing options are available,” he went on to explain.

Sentence on a second charge of failing to appear at the Perth court on October 12 after being freed on an April 28, 2017 bail order was also deferred until next month.