Sunderland banned driver took friend's BMW and crashed it after taking diazepam and cocaine

A ‘glassy-eyed’ groundworker who took his pal’s high-powered BMW and crashed it at midnight after taking drugs has been banned from driving.
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Cameron McNay, 30, of Alderley Close, Grangetown, Sunderland, was found in the car by a retired policeman who heard the smash in The Village, Ryhope.

When the ex-officer went inside to call the emergency services on Tuesday, April 21, McNay fled – but was soon caught.

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He told police he had taken cocaine and cannabis – and six days later contacted them again to make a full confession.

South Tyneside Law Courts.  Picture by FRANK REID. South Tyneside Law Courts.  Picture by FRANK REID.
South Tyneside Law Courts. Picture by FRANK REID.

At that interview at South Shields police station, McNay admitted he had taken unprescribed diazepam and cocaine and had swiped the X5 model without his friend knowing.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “At midnight the witness, an ex-police officer, was at home when he looked out of the window and saw a damaged BMW X5.

“He ran outside. He opened the driver’s door, and it was the defendant.

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“The defendant was glassy-eyed and unsure where he was and was wobbly on his feet. The man went in to get his phone to call 999 but the driver had run off.

“The police found him soon after. He was arrested and had consumed cannabis and cocaine.”

She added: “On April 27 the defendant contacted police. He was interviewed and stated that on the evening in question he had taken unprescribed diazepam and cocaine.

“He said he had been at a friend’s house and had taken the keys to the BMW.”

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The court heard McNay had a previous conviction for a similar offence in 2018 for which he had received a one-year driving ban and had yet to get his licence back.

John Kirkham, defending, said McNay had served his disqualification but did not realise he had to reapply for his licence before he could return to driving.

He said: “I often hear people say that they are genuinely remorseful.

“A couple of days later he’s actually asked the police to come into the police station for a second interview.”

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McNay pleaded guilty driving whilst unfit through drugs, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He was banned from driving for a year, fined £554 and must pay £85 court costs and a £55 victim surcharge.

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