24-year-old Sam Kewell has been disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to drug driving.
It was on 2nd April this year that Kewell, a window fitter of Whitbank Gardens in Shanklin, was stopped by Police on the outskirts of Ryde.
Officers had pulled over Kewell’s Suzuki Alto on Brading Road at around 23:45 after becoming suspicious of the vehicle, which was travelling ‘too slowly’.
Approaching the car, officers could smell cannabis and located a small amount under the driver’s seat. A roadside drugs wipe was carried out which indicated the presence of both cocaine and cannabis.
Kewell, who has no previous convictions, was taken to Ryde Police Station where a blood sample was taken – later returning positive results for cocaine, cannabis and benzoylecgonine.
Defending, Barry Arnett said that his client was sorry for what had happened and understands the consequences of drug driving can be dire. He also said it was a ‘kick up the backside’ that Sam needed. He also noted that there was no suggestion of bad driving.
Magistrates handed Kewell a community order with 80 hours of unpaid work attached, banned him from driving for 12 months and ordered him to pay £85 costs with a £95 surcharge.
No sign of bad driving, yet his driving was bad enough for the Police to pull him over!
When will these people realise, taking drugs and driving can kill.