A DRUG driver was caught by police officers who were in a rural area of north Cumbria investigating possible badger baiting. 

Twenty-seven-year-old Dale Rickerby was arrested after a police patrol effectively blocked his VW Golf from driving away along a country farm track near Aglionby, Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court heard.

A test later confirmed that he had used both cannabis and cocaine. The defendant, of Warnell Drive, Harraby, pleaded guilty to driving while over the prescribed limit for both of those illegal drugs.

Prosecutor Andy Travis told the court that the offences came to light on the afternoon of October 15 last year when police spotted the defendant’s black VW Golf driving along a farm track near Aglionby.

When an officer attempted to stop the car so he could speak to the driver, Rickerby began performing a U-turn, despite being told not to. The officer told him: “I’m telling you to stop now; if you don’t you’ll be committing an offence.”

Despite this, Rickerby began driving back along the farm track. But because he was talking to the constable through his open car window, the officer noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the VW.

A short time later, police were able to administer a roadside drugs test and it proved positive for both cannabis and cocaine.

John Smith, defending, said police were in the area investigating offences connected to badgers.

Explaining the defendant’s decision to drive back down the lane, Mr Smith said Rickerby was not trying to avoid the police.

“He was going to collect a friend,” said Mr Smith. “He said that he had used cocaine on the bank holiday, though this offence was committed on October 15. He's clear that he hadn't used cocaine immediately before driving.

“There's no evidence of bad driving.”

The lawyer said Rickerby – a young man who perhaps did not understand the "implications  of things" – currently worked as a mobile cleaner and may well lose his job as a result of the inevitable driving ban.

District Judge John Temperley noted that there had been two separate drugs in the defendant’s body and a passenger in his car. The judge said he did not take at face value what Rickerby had told his lawyer.

“It’s also clear that you were not doing what the police told you to do,” added the judge.

Judge Temperley imposed a community order which includes an eight week 7pm to 7am curfew. He banned Rickerby from driving for 18 months and ordered that he pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £95 victim surcharge.

The judge added: “If you are caught driving while disqualified that’s a serious offence and you can go to prison for that.”

The defendant has previous convictions for posssessing amphetamine and cannabis.

The judge agreed that the curfew will be served at a property in Tindale Drive, Harraby, and not the Warnell Drive address. 

* There was no suggestion during the hearing that Rickerby had any connection watsoever to badger bating.