South Shields motorist’s ‘glazed eyes and sweaty appearance’ triggered drug-driving suspicions
A South Tyneside motorist’s glazed eyes and sweaty appearance triggered suspicions among patrolling police he had taken drugs, a court heard.
Scott Haswell, 34, was pulled over by officers as he drove an MG vehicle on the dual carriageway King George Road in South Shields, in the early hours of Saturday, July 12.
Haswell, of St Cuthbert’s Avenue, Horsley Hill, South Shields, was placed in the rear of their car, prosecutor Jonathan Moore said.
But his uncomfortable look led to a drug swipe test being undertaken at the roadside – and it revealed he had taken cocaine.
Analysis of a blood sample taken after his arrest then confirmed BZE, the breakdown product of class A cocaine, was in his system at a level over the limit.
He is now starting a 12-month roads’ ban after pleading guilty to a charge of drug driving at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Moore said: “At 2am police officers were on King George Road in South Shields when they stopped the defendant’s vehicle.
“He was asked to sit in the back by the police. They could see that his eyes were glazed, and he was sweaty, and they thought he might be under the influence of drugs.
“A swipe was positive for cocaine, and he was arrested.”
Haswell’s reading in blood showed BZE at a level of 800mcg. The legal limit is 50mcg.
David Forrester, defending, told District Judge Zoe Passfield: “He has no previous convictions. He is not working and is in receipt of benefits.
“I invite you to deal with this by way of a financial penalty.”
Judge Passfield also fined Haswell £120, with £85 court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
She told him: “I give you full credit for pleading guilty. You’ve no previous convictions so I can deal with this by way of a fine.
“You are banned for 12 months, that’s effective immediately. Do not drive while you are disqualified.
“If you do, you can expect to go straight to prison.”
The court heard Haswell’s payments to the court will be deducted from his benefits at a rate of about £20 a month.