Drug driving offences admitted by Otterburn and Rothbury men
Two men have been sentenced for separate drug driving offences in rural Northumberland.
Otterburn man Christopher Moore, 43, of Brierley Gardens, admitted drug driving when he appeared at Berwick Magistrates’ Court. He also pleaded guilty to driving without third party insurance.
The court heard he was stopped by police while driving a VW Up! on the B6320 in Bellingham on March 2.
Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said: “Checks showed the insurance relating to the vehicle was for a female so officers stopped the vehicle and spoke to Mr Moore and it was established that he did not have insurance cover for use of that vehicle.
"Officers noticed drug paraphernalia in the footwell of the car. As a result, a roadside swab was taken and came up positive for cannabis.”
He was taken to a police station and gave a blood sample of 4.0ug, above the permitted limit of 2.0ug.
In mitigation, Ian O’Rourke told magistrate the defendant’s partner had changed the insurance policy but intended for Mr Moore to remain a named driver.
"It is not a wilful driving without insurance,” he added.
The court heard he had been ‘self-medicating’ with cannabis to help cope with family and mental health issues.
He was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine, costs and victim surcharge totalling £421.
Meanwhile, Rothbury man Leo Darby, 20, of Whitton View, pleaded guilty to drug driving on March 14.
Magistrates heard he was stopped by police at 12.20am while driving a VW Golf on Whitton View.
A roadside test was positive and he was taken to a police station where he gave a blood sample of 3.0ug THC, above the permitted limit of 2.0ug.
In defence, Ian O’Rourke told magistrates the defendant had been driving home when he was pulled over. He had smoked cannabis the previous day.
"There was nothing whatsoever about the manner of his driving that drew the attention of officers,” Berwick court heard. “They stopped him because it was late at night and he was a young man in a car on his own.”
He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine, costs and victim surcharge totalling £457.