Rogue driver released by judge after only one hour behind bars
the cells, his solicitor, Angus Westgarth, gave notice he intended to immediately appeal.
Self-employed Corkin’s case was later brought before District Judge Paul Currer at the same court.
He was freed and his sentence will now be considered by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court at a date to be fixed.
The magistrates' court heard Corkin was arrested after police, positioned behind his black VW Lupo by chance, suspected he may have been under the influence.
Prosecutor Ansab Shan said: “They carried out a roadside swipe test and it came back positive for cocaine. White powder was also found on his person and that’s come back as cocaine.”
Mr Shan said Corkin was banned from driving for 14 months in June last year, with the suspended sentence also imposed. Mr Westgarth told the court Corkin was a reformed man and had taken great strides since his most recent arrest to turn his life around after suffering from his father’s death and the breakdown of his marriage.
He added: “Since that time, life has improved immensely. His 16-year-old daughter is back living with him and he’s on the straight and narrow.
“Since June, he’s started work as a self-employed loft insulator. He’s completely turned his life around. It would be such a shame to send someone away at this stage, to send them away in the current climate.
“He would lose his 16-yearold daughter and he also now has to look after his mother.”
As well as activating the suspended sentence, magistrates also banned him from driving for three years, ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a £90 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.