A 25-year-old man has appeared before Newcastle Magistrates charged with both drink driving and drug driving in two separate incidents just over a week apart.
Prosecuting, Jonathan Straughan told the court that a woman was driving through the town of Hexham, Northumberland at 6.50am on September 2, 2021. On seeing the defendant’s vehicle approaching she reduced her speed to a “crawl”.
He continued: “The defendant’s vehicle approached at speed and was over the centre white line.
“A collision ensued and her car was pushed up the road. Her rear wheels mounted a low wall. She suffered three fractured vertebrae, whiplash, soft tissue damage and a cut lip.
“The defendant was also injured.”
The hospital took a blood sample for analysis while treating the defendant and found him to be over the limit for benzoylecgonine – the breakdown product of cocaine use.
Eight days later police pulled the man over again, finding him to be over the limit for drink driving, giving a reading of 56mcg alcohol per 100ml breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. He was charged, convicted, and sentenced for his drink driving offence at the end of last year and handed a 15-month ban.
Defending, Katherine Fowle said her client had been out with his girlfriend, taking cocaine on the night before the morning of the accident. Having been to sleep he believed the drug would be out of his system and drove to his mother’s house following a row with his partner.
“He accepts he’s gone around the bend and has not adjusted his speed accordingly,” said Ms Fowle.
“He’s gone down the road and a collision has ensued. It’s unfortunate the complainant suffered the injuries that she did.”
After pleading guilty to drug driving, magistrates banned the man from driving for a further 20 months and bound him under an 18-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.
About Carl Millar
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.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
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