A community support worker who was found slumped at the wheel whilst high on ketamine following a crash on The Downs back in March, has been handed a community order and banned from the roads for 19-months.
36-year-old Sam Tilbury, of Salters Road in Ryde, appeared before Magistrates last week (1st November) having previously admitted a singe charge of drug driving.
Liz Miller, prosecuting, told the court that on the 8th March, Tilbury had been driving his Audi A4 over Brading Downs when he drifted off the road and collided with a signpost. He was found unresponsive at the wheel, with responding paramedics declaring he had suffered an overdose of ketamine.
Defending, Lucy Linington explained to the bench that her client’s role as a community support worker ‘took its toll on him’, so he lent on drugs – a role he has since resigned from. She explained that Tilbury had taken ketamine and then drove for a period of 20 minutes – on his way to band practice as a local musician – before feeling unwell. In his attempts to pull over, Tilbury collided with the signpost.
The court heard how Tilbury had lost his job since the incident and that he was seeking alternative employment.
Tilbury has a ‘light’ record and was convicted of drink driving back in 2011.
After deliberations, Magistrates handed Tilbury a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation days and 50-hours of unpaid work attached.
In handing down their sentence – which included ordering Tilbury to pay costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge fee – chair of the bench Keith Jones reminded Tilbury how lucky he was to have been more seriously injured.
Tilbury was banned from driving for 19-months.
Good advert for a community support worker NOT,
they cannot even support themselves.
Hopefully no longer a community support worker.
Such a wreckless thing to do.
Disgraceful way to behave by the judge.
Far too lenient.
Throw the book at him because he could have killed someone
Until tougher sentences are given these type of
Incidents will keep happening.
For a small Island it is shocking the amount of
Drugs being used by idiots.
“its toll on him’, so he lent”
I think you will find the word you are looking for is “leant”
Not leaned then?
Yeh, because turning to drugs and being a dangerous idiot is always so helpful when having problems at work. Utterly pathetic.