A DRUG-DRIVER was caught after police attempted to find a vehicle that had overtaken them at speed.
The officers were in an unmarked car in Cleator Moor on the evening of October 13 last year when they were overtaken by a vehicle doing speeds in excess of 60mph in a 30mph zone.
Pamela Fee, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates’ Court, said the vehicle was then seen doing further overtakes when there was oncoming traffic.
Police located a Seat Leon vehicle parked in Egremont, which they blocked in. The driver identified himself as Craig Dunn, 42.
A drugs wipe was positive and the defendant was arrested and taken to the police station. A blood sample showed he had 46mcg of cocaine per litre of blood. The specified limit is 10mcg.
Other drugs, including Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were detected in his blood but were below the limit.
Ms Fee said police could not say if Dunn’s vehicle was the same one they saw driving in Cleator Moor.
Dunn, of Coronation Drive, Frizington, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug over the limit.
Mike Pope, defending, said: “There hasn’t been a repeat offence since this happened in October.
“He was asked if he had taken any substances. He said cocaine and cannabis. He was vaping products that contain THC. He didn’t know if it was legal or not.
“He hasn’t been charged with anything other than driving over the prescribed limit for drugs.”
Magistrates imposed a 22-month driving ban and a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Dunn was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
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