A FARMER from the Wigton area has been prosecuted for his second drug driving – committed as he drove a tractor on a major Cumbrian road.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, 27-year-old Jonathan Stoddart pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit for the Class A drug cocaine as he drove his tractor along the A596 near Wigton on September 19 last year.

At the time, he was under investigation for a similar offence.

Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said police decided to carry out a stop-check on the defendant after receiving a tip-off that he may be under the influence of drugs.

Describing what then happened, the prosecutor said: “The defendant appeared to be nervous and he appeared to have a white substance around his nose. The officer therefore conducted a drugs swipe, which came back positive for cocaine.”

A later blood sample confirmed that cocaine was present in the defendant’s system at a concentration of 236mcg per 100mls of blood. The legal limit is 10mcgs.

Mr Dacre then outlined the defendant’s offending background. “Unfortunately, where was a similar conviction for drug driving on January 26, 2024, relating to an offence date of August 23. The defendant committed this offence while under investigation for that matter.

“He committed this offence four weeks later.”

Chris Toms, defending, said attempts to have both offences dealt with together failed. They were both offences committed by Stoddart at a time when his life was “rather off the rails,” said the lawyer.

Since that time, Stoddart had sought medical help and he was now being treated with antidepressant medication and in contact with Recovery Steps with a view to no longer using drugs. “He was struggling with things and he turned to cocaine for support,” continued Mr Toms.

The lawyer said Stoddart recognised that he had to be punished but he lived at Hillside, Wigton, a relatively remote area where there was little public transport.

Working as he does on his father’s farm, he faced “significant restriction” because of the driving ban that would be imposed. “But he has taken steps since this incident to address his issue,” added Mr Toms.

Magistrates imposed a one-year community order, with 60 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was also given a 24 month driving ban and told to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

The presiding magistrate told Stoddart: there was a high risk associated with drug driving in such a large vehicle.

Read more: 'Wake-up call' over cocaine as Wigton farm worker caught drug driving