A chef from Sandown has been handed 10 points on his driving licence after Police found him in his car on a rural road in Ryde whilst under the influence of cannabis.
Laurence Dugard, 38, of Avenue Road in Sandown, pleaded guilty to in charge of a vehicle with a specified drug above the specified limit when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last Tuesday (12th September).
Ann Smout, prosecuting told the court that at around 23:40 on 25th March 2023, Police were made aware of a possible drug driver in the Ryde area.
Having been given details of the vehicle, officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary located Dugard in a Vauxhall Corsa on Gatehouse Road. At the scene, officers searched the vehicle.
A roadside drugs wipe tested positive for cannabis, as did a blood test carried out at Newport Police Station where a reading of 7.0 was returned – the prescribed limit is 2.0.
Dugard was due to appear before the courts last week, however, he failed to show and thus a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was told to attend Newport Police Station on the morning of 12th September where he was arrested and held in custody before his appearance.
Defending, Henry Farley said that his client – who works as a chef – had no knowledge of his court appearance and didn’t intentionally miss last week’s hearing.
Magistrates added 10 points to Dugard’s licence and ordered he pay a fine of £161, costs of £85 and a £64 surcharge fee.
Instant ban would be a better idea and a stay at His Majesty’s
Drug and Drink driving is not taken seriously on the island.
Throw the book at individuals who commit such crimes
can’t work this out, drug driving but no ban, no different to drink driving, thought yhat was the law, wheres the discouragement
Another drug taker that thinks it’s okay to drive while high… At least he was caught before he caused an collision. I suppose in reality the chance of getting caught drink/drug driving on the Island is still pretty small which is why people chance it. Just shows the state of most peoples morals!!
How does that work.. others lose their license if its 2.1, this dude was 7.0
I think it depends on which corrupt official you get at the time!
Yeah seems to me he was a friend or family member, no others got a light sentence but as this has been passed others can use this case in their defence
Goldfish bowl Isle
well it is the isle of Wight
Another snort/swill/smack head driving while over the limit, and they want to get older drivers off the road. It isn’t US driving snort/swill/smacked, roaring/banging or defying the speed limit is it? And some A/H thought he would try to over take cars stopped at Westridge traffic lights just a couple of hours ago on the wrong side of the road. Plod NEVER there when you need them are they?
Expensive spliff. Why do these people think it’s ok to do this. You can’t educate ‘stupid’.
I don’t have any sympathy for drug/ drink drivers. They put other innocent road users lives at risk.