Double glazing fitter from Sunderland handed lengthy road ban for second drug-driving offence
A double glazing fitter caught drug-driving for the second time in three years has been heavily punished by the courts.
Thomas Scott, 29, is starting a 43-month road ban and must pay more than £2,600 in fines and costs after testing positive for ketamine.
Scott, of Bright Street in Roker, was subjected to a drugs test by police following his involvement in a road accident which was not his fault.
To make matters worse, a search of his Ford Focus in Silksworth Lane, New Silksworth, on Monday, January 12, turned up cocaine, a court heard.
In a police interview he admitted he had made a mistake and that he had referred himself for professional help for a drug addiction.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to charges of drug-driving and drug possession.
The court was told he has a previous conviction from 2023 for drug-driving, which meant he faced a minimum three-year disqualification.
Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “There was a road traffic collision and the defendant then gave a positive test for drugs.
“He was over the limit for ketamine, and cocaine was found in the vehicle. He made admissions in interview, where he said that he was responsible for possession of drugs.
“He accepted that he had had drugs before, and he also says that he made some self-referral to Wearside Recovery for drug addiction.
“There’s a 2023 previous conviction which elevates this to a disqualification of 36 to 52 months.”
Scott gave a reading in blood for ketamine of not less than 50mcg. The legal limit is 20mcg.
His solicitor Syed Ahmed told the hearing: “You’ve heard guilty pleas and at the earliest opportunity and he made full and frank admissions at the police station when interviewed about these matters.
“Since then, he’s made a self-referral to Wear Recovery, and they speak highly of him.
“Back in January his life was somewhat different. He’d had bereavements and went back to taking drugs.”
For the drug-driving, magistrates fined Scott £1,846, with a £738 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. They issued no separate penalty for the drug possession offence.