Banned motorist was high on drugs
MAN DECIDED TO DRIVE FOR A BURGER
A BANNED driver was high on three different drugs when he decided to get behind the wheel and drive to a local Mcdonald’s.
Jason Smith had taken a cocktail of cocaine, ketamine and diazepam when he was pulled over by police in an Audi A6 on Grainger Street, in Newcastle City Centre, at 2am on a Saturday morning last summer.
A court heard that, as well as being over the drug limit, the 26-year-old was a disqualified driver, having been banned from the roads for two years in January 2018 for a dangerous driving offence. Smith, of Icehouse, Brae, in Falkirk, Scotland, was due to appear before magistrates earlier this year but failed to show and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was finally detained and was in the dock on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of drug-driving in relation to the cocaine, ketamine, diazepam and a break-down product of the cocaine, one count of driving while disqualified and one of driving with no insurance.
Giving him a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, District Judge Paul Currer said Smith had put other road users and members of the public at “great risk.”
He added: “You took three drugs, although there are four charges as one relates to a break-down product of the cocaine.
“These are very serious offences. To have your ability to drive so impaired by that cocktail of drugs would put other road users in the city centre in great danger and put them at great risk.
“At that time of night, the streets would be packed. It is more by good fortune than anything else that nobody was hurt.” North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told police were driving near the Groat Market when they noticed Smith in an Audi behind them at 2.20am on July 19 last year.
Lee Poppett, prosecuting, said officers were travelling slowly and noticed Smith was “keeping his distance and not overtaking.”
Smith was eventually pulled over on Grainger Street, having driven along Mosley Street and Grey Street.
Mr Poppett said: “The officers noticed the defendant’s speech was slurred, he was sweating and his eyes were dilated.
“The defendant volunteered he had consumed some cannabis two hours earlier.
“A roadside breath test was negative for alcohol but it transpired he was a disqualified driver and he was arrested and a blood sample was taken.”
During interview, Smith told police he should not have driven but “had wanted a Mcdonald’s”.
Alanna Wesemcraft, defending, said Smith had turned his life around since his arrest as he now had full custody of his daughter.
“It was a wake-up call for him and his lifestyle,” the solicitor added.
“He’s now employed and works as a recruitment consultant, he has his own accommodation and he completely turned his life around. He is incredibly sorry for this.”
As well as the suspended sentence, Smith was also fined £500 and banned from driving for 30 months.
IT is more by good fortune than anythng else that nobody was hurt. JUDGE PAUL CURRER