A 34-year-old Cardiff man has appeared before magistrates for drug driving, despite his arrest coming three days after he had taken cocaine.
The defendant told the court he took the Class A substance on the night of Saturday, June 12, but it wasn’t until Wednesday that police pulled him over.
Prosecuting, Jermel Anderson said: “The officer spotted the defendant driving at excess speed, though there is no other evidence of that and it is not a high-rated feature of the offence.”
Subsequent testing found the man to have 65mcg of cocaine metabolite Benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit for drug driving is 50mcg.
According to the Priory Group, cocaine can typically be detected in the blood within two days of use.
Mitigating, Vaughan Britton said: “It almost seemed like a routine stop because he was driving home having gone out late to get a takeaway. It was about 3am and I think police are always more hypervigilant at that time.
“He was pulled over and cooperated fully with a roadside drugs wipe test. Because it gave an indication, it was enough evidence to arrest and take him into custody for a more detailed blood sample.
“It was an element of naivety on his part because he certainly felt OK to drive. He is not a regular cocaine user. It was on a one-off basis at a friend’s birthday party when it was offered to him. He never thought it would still be in his system.
“It is a shame for him. He passed his driving test in 2017 the second time around. He will have to apply to get his licence back at the end of the disqualification period.”
After hearing a guilty plea to drug driving, Justice Jason Bartless banned the man from driving for twelve months. He must pay a fine of £120, a £34 victim surcharge, and £85 costs.
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Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
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