South Tyneside cocaine and crystal meth driver was also uninsured to be on road
A South Shields driver had cocaine and crystal meth in his system while driving uninsured.
A South Tyneside man caught driving after using cocaine and crystal meth has been banned from the roads.
Philip Poulter, 43, was stopped at the wheel of a VW vehicle in Darlington, having been tailed by police from Sedgefield, Co Durham, on Monday, April 14 last year.
Poulter, of Bisley Drive, near the West Park, South Shields, gave a positive roadside drug swipe for cocaine and was arrested, a court heard.
A blood test after his arrest also revealed methylamphetamine – commonly known as crystal meth – in his system at a level above the legal limit for driving.
He is now starting an 18-month disqualification after pleading guilty to two counts of drug driving and one of driving without insurance at the borough’s magistrates’ court.
Prosecutor Mariam Odetoro said: “Officers on mobile patrol identified the defendant’s vehicle which was linked to intelligence about a fail to stop and other unrelated matters.
“It was followed through Sedgefield and there was a controlled stop in Stockton Road in Darlington.
“A roadside drug swipe proved positive for cocaine. Further inquiries showed that the defendant was not insured to drive.
“He was transported into custody. A blood test showed BZE in his system.”
Poulter gave a reading in blood for cocaine breakdown product BZE of 396mcg, against a legal limit of 50mcg.
His reading for methylamphetamine was greater than 150mcg. The legal limit is 10mcg.
David Forrester, defending, said: “The offences go back to April last year, a significant period of time.
“It’s effectively two drugs in his system. He genuinely believed that he was insured to drive.
“There’s a lack of previous convictions and an immediate guilty plea.”
As well as a road ban, District Judge Zoe Passfield sentenced Poulter to a 12-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation days.
He must also pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
The judge told Poulter he risked being brought back to court if he failed to comply with the terms of his community order.
She added: “I give you full credit for your guilty plea and your lack of previous convictions.
“Because there are two drugs in your system, this is serious enough for a community sentence.”