A MOTORIST whose car was stopped in Longtown by police officers who suspected the car he was in had no road tax was drug driving.
When he was challenged by the police officers about being over the limit for amphetamine, 29-year-old Dominik Pitonak said that he committed the offence as a result of him being late for his job as a dairy farm worker..
At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, he admitted the drug driving offence as well as driving without being insured.
Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, explained why the police decided to stop the defendant’s car as he drove along Burn Street in Longtown on February 1. “The car was stopped because it was showing as having no tax of MOT,” said the prosecutor.
“There was no criticism of his driving.”
After the defendant tested negative for alcohol, police did a drugs wipe test, and this was positive for amphetamine. The test also indicated the presence of cannabis but he was not over the limit for that drug.
The court heard that Pitonak, of English Street, Longtown, had a “like conviction” from 2021.
Katie Scattergood, defending, told magistrates: “He tells me that he had slept in and was late for work and that’s why he decided to drive.”
The defendant was conscious that he was not supposed to drive and claimed it was not a decision he would normally make. The car belonged to his brother. On the day, Pitonak was fully compliant with the police officers.
Miss Scattergood confirmed that Pitonak, who normally worked 12-hour days, would be able to continue his farm work if banned, but he would have to do fewer hours.
Magistrates said they had considered imposing unpaid work, but they were not inclined to impose a sentence that would impact on the defendant's work pattern.
They fined the defendant £1,011, with a surcharge of £404, and £85 costs.
They also imposed a three-year driving ban. There was no separate penalty for the no insurance offence.
