Sunderland driver caught behind wheel after taking cocktail of drugs

Jordan Cutter Douglas, 26, was arrested he pulled out straight into the path of a police car in the city centre, Sunderland magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Laura Lax said: “On July 21 at about 8.15pm an Audi A3 emerged from a side road and pulled out in front of a police car on patrol in West Wear Street.”

Miss Lax said Officer pulled over the vehicle to speak to Douglas, and checks revealed he had no insurance and held only a provisional licence.

A drugs test showed the father-of-two had 3.3 microgrammes of the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in his blood – the legal limit of which is two, 122 microgrammes of cocaine – the legal limit being 10, and 813 microgrammes of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine – which has a legal limit of 50.

Douglas, of East Vines, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three counts of drug driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without insurance.

Probation officer Alan Cutting, who prepared a report on Douglas – a demolition contractor – said: “This stems from a party the night before.

“He admits he uses cannabis and he had taken some cocaine and another substance – antidepressant medication he receives from his doctor.

“He uses cannabis on a regular basis to help him sleep, but he tells me he very rarely uses cocaine.

“This happened on the anniversary of his father’s death and he didn’t realise consequences of getting in the car the next day.”

Angus Westgarth, defending, said: “it’s unusual to see somebody before the court in this way.

“I haven’t seen someone on three counts arising from the same incident.

“With alcohol you don’t get charged for each type of alcohol.

“It’s one incident, but as they can examine each drug he cases three charges.

“He’s taken a cocktail of drugs and the legislation allows that to be detailed.

“He’s clearly taken drugs. He’s clearly driven. There was minimal complaint about his driving.”

Douglas was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was banned from driving for two years, and an existing community order was revoked.

He was also told to pay a £115 surcharge and £85 costs.

Bench chairman Gerald Tierney said: “Given the cocktail of drugs that you had taken we consider it to be a serious impairment to your driving.

“You were stopped because you did something they found unusual.

“I think you can thank the Lord it did not lead to anything serious.”