A 25-year-old Cowes man who was caught driving nearly 5 times over the prescribed limit for ketamine has been slapped with a 20-month driving ban, a 12-month community order and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Thomas Walker, of Newport Road, previously pleaded guilty to driving his Peugeot 208 on Mill Hill Road, Cowes, with 96 micrograms of ketamine in his blood.
Appearing before the Isle of Wight Magistrates court for senecting on Friday, Liz Miller for the Crown Prosecution Service told the Magistrates the facts of the case.
In the early hours of 22nd February, at around 01:15, 2 officers were travelling along Mill Hill Road when they noticed an oddly parked vehicle which was half in a space. The officers also noted damage to the vehicle’s bumper, something that, along with the poor parking, sparked their attention.
Upon pulling up beside the vehicle, Walker got out, and officers observed the young man had glazed eyes and slurred speech.
Ms Miller said that when out of the car, the defendant admitted to the officers that he had taken ketamine and had some more in his car.
After being arrested the 25-year-old was taken into custody for a blood test, the results of which concluded Walker had 96 micrograms of ketamine in his blood, nearly 5 times the legal limit of 20.
Defending, Eva Ford said her client, who has a drug misuse issue, has no previous convictions and that he knows what he did is ‘extremely foolish’.
She said that the offence has seen Walker learn a very serious lesson, as his newly established criminal record has seen the withdrawal of his offer to join the Royal Navy.
When sentencing Walker, the lead Magistrate said:
“You knowingly took a risk by driving that day; it was extremely foolish.
“I think the sad thing for me is that you have lost your chance to join the Navy because I was in the Navy.”
Thomas Walker was sentenced to a 20 month driving disquaification, a 12 month community order and was ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation days, 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £199.
