Driver banned after a cocktail of drugs was found in his system
A designated driver has been handed a motoring ban after being found over the limit with three illegal drugs in his system at a Sunderland fastfood drive-thru.
Police were tipped off about Luke Sands-Charlotte, 31, by the manager of McDonald’s in North Moor Lane, Farringdon, on Saturday, October 26.
He noticed the smell of cannabis coming from Sands-Charlotte’s 2006-plate Vauxhall Astra when it pulled up at 4.20am, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.
The court was told police arrived and the defendant tested positive for Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, cocaine and Benzoylecgonine – a derivative of cocaine – in a blood sample.
Prosecutor Glenda Beck said: “As they approached the vehicle, the officers could smell cannabis. There was a positive roadside breath test and as a result has was cautioned and arrested.
“He was taken to Southwick police station and a sample of blood was taken and sent for analysis.”
Mrs Beck said the results showed jobless Sands-Charlotte had a level of 7mcgs of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mcgs.
He also produced a reading of 32mcgs of cocaine in a litre of blood. The legal limit of 10mcgs. And he had 200mcgs of Benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50mcgs.
Sands-Charlotte, of Lawrence Avenue, Pontefract, who pleaded guilty to three charges of drug-driving, was disqualified for 12 months and must pay a £150 fine.