Callum Steele, a drug driver from Shanklin who was caught on his phone whilst behind the wheel, has been banned from the roads for 2 years.
30-year-old Steele, of Victoria Avenue, admitted drug driving (THC) and using a mobile phone whilst driving when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court back in January.
At a sentencing hearing on Friday, prosecutor Lauren McConnell explained that on 13th June 2024, Steele – who was driving a Renault Master van – was seen thumbing his phone screen whilst driving along Fairlee Road, Newport.
Having been stopped by officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, a drugs test was conducted which returned a positive reading for cannabis. Steele was subsequently arrested and taken to Newport Police Station.
Defending Steele, Oscar Vincent said that it was simply a brief glance at the phone and that Steele has been clear of controlled substances since his stop. The court heard how Steele was still in employment but was on a final warning.
Steele has several motor-related convictions on his record. In December 2023, Steele crashed his car and fled the scene which put him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in June 2022, when he was sentenced for 2x drug supply offences and possession of an offensive weapon.
Magistrates handed the 30-year-old a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work attached. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge fee.
Steele was banned from driving for 24 months.
Let’s hope being banned means BANNED
I am fed up reading about all the banned
drivers who still get behind the wheel.
If banned and they break the ban
In my world that = instant imprisonment
NOT EXCUSES