A DRUG-DRIVER was caught after he drove past police on the A66 with a “strong smell of cannabis” coming from his vehicle.
Workington Magistrates’ Court heard that officers had been dealing with another motorist in Cockermouth at 3.50pm on August 7 when Ben Williams, 32, drove by and they could smell the drug.
Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the officers followed in the direction Williams had driven and found the vehicle parked up with the defendant sat in the driver’s seat.
There was a “strong smell of cannabis” coming from the vehicle. A drugs wipe carried out on the defendant was positive for the drug. He was arrested and taken to the police station.
A sample of blood showed he had 2.1mcg of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mcg.
Williams, of Slatefell Drive, Cockermouth, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit.
The defendant, who was unrepresented, said: “There’s no excuse, really. I was working night shift. I went for a meal. I was overtired afterwards and ended up getting cannabis.
“I smoked mine when I got home. That’s when the police turned up. I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Williams was banned from driving for 16 months. He was fined £346 and must pay £85 costs and a £138 victim surcharge.
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