Drug-driving motorist banned after he is stopped by police on A19 at Sunderland

Police who stopped Lewis Reece, 21, of Newark Crescent, Seaham, got an immediate smell of the drug coming from his Skoda Octavia, a court heard.

A roadside drugs test on the dual carriageway A19 at Sunderland proved positive, as did two further samples given at a police station on Friday, April 17.

Reece’s first criminal misdemeanour has landed him a year’s driving ban and fines and court costs totalling £419.

Prosecutor Grace Taylor told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “Officers had cause to stop the defendant’s vehicle and when they did, there was a strong smell of cannabis.

“There was a roadside test which proved positive. The defendant was arrested and taken to a police station.

“The defendant is of previous good character.”

Summy Thandi, defending, said: “The defendant has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“He fully accepts the offence that he’s here for today. He’s extremely remorseful for his actions.

“It’s the first time that he’s been in court and it’s a shock to his system. He has no previous convictions and he is of previous good character.

“There was no aggravating feature to his driving. Due to the stop, the officers get a whiff of cannabis and he’s tested over the limit.”

Mr Thandi added: “He’s employed with an engineering firm, which is based in Darlington and may be moving to Manchester.

“His employers are aware of what has happened and have allowed him to keep his employment.

“Losing his licence will be financially hard for him. He states that he took cannabis to help him deal with anxiety and depression.

“He was caught out at the time thinking that he was ok to drive. It was an error of judgement on his behalf.”

Reece, who pleaded guilty to drug driving, gave a reading of 6.5mcgs of controlled drug THC, a derivative of cannabis, per litre of blood.

The legal limit is 2mcgs.

He was fined £300 and must pay £85 courts costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Sunderland Echo website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.