Drug-driver caught after accident at Sunderland McDonald's drive-thru

Jack Turner’s irresponsible actions in his VW Transporter motor at the North Moor Road outlet, Farringdon, were caught on his victim’s dashcam – and brought scorn from a judge.

Turner, 25, of Cambridge Road, New Silksworth, has now been banned from driving for 14 months, and may also lose his job.

The roads cone layer admitted to District Judge Kathryn Meek he could remember nothing of the incident, having partied the night before.

She scolded him when he described his actions as “silly”, telling him a better description was “dangerous”.

Prosecutor Clare Irving told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court the offence happened at 1.40pm on Tuesday, November 3.

She said: “This gentleman was in a vehicle involved in a collision at the drive-thru.

“The defendant had reversed into another vehicle, an incident which was captured on the other vehicle’s dashcam.

“He drove from the drive thru and parked in a bay. Officers attended, he was asked to turn off his ignition.

“He was reported to be extremely drowsy, he was slurred in speech and he stumbled as he stepped down.

“He was cautioned for driving whilst unfit.”

Ms Irving said when questioned by police, Turner replied, “It’s probably those things I was taking last night, diazepam”.

The court heard a drugs test showed Turner had no less than 326mcgs of controlled drug Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine derivative, in his system.

The legal limit is 50mcgs per litre of blood.

Turner represented himself at the hearing and when asked by Judge Meek why he had offended, he replied: “To be honest, I can’t really remember.

“I was at a house party, and the next thing I remember was getting out of the police car.”

Turner, who said he may lose his job with his Blyth-based employer, admitted he had not felt well enough to drive and called his decision “silly”.

Judge Meek replied: “It’s not silly, it’s dangerous.”

Turner, who pleaded guilty to drug-driving, was also fined £400, with £85 court costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

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