An Isle of Wight woman caught driving with drugs in her system twice in less than a month, will learn her fate in December.
Helen Gibbons, 58, of no fixed abode, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (Tuesday) and admitted driving whilst unfit through drugs and drug driving.
Prosecutor, Lauren McConnell, told the court that on the 29th May, Police noticed a Ford Fiesta being driven above the speed limit on Morton Common in Brading. Officers recognised the driver and asked her to stop the vehicle.
When Gibbons got out of the vehicle officers noticed she was unstable on her feet, unbalanced and struggling to walk. When she spoke to Police, Gibbons’ speech was slurred.
The 58-year-old admitted to Police that she had consumed alcohol and smoked cannabis prior to driving. A roadside drugs wipe showed positive results for both cannabis and cocaine. Urine samples taken at Newport Police Station also showed levels of illicit substances.
In a separate incident, on 23rd June, the same Police officer saw Gibbons driving on St John’s Road in Ryde. Gibbons was stopped on High Street. A roadside drugs wipe was conducted in which readings for cannabis and cocaine were returned.
The court heard how Gibbons had a total of 23 offences on her record.
Defending Gibbons, Jim Osborne, told the court that the case would be one that would benefit from the creation of a pre-sentence report. Magistrates agreed and adjourned the case until the 19th December.
Gibbons was handed an interim driving ban in the meantime.
58 years of age and still doesn’t know right from wrong.
How many offences does one have to have before
they are banged up.
How can our roads be a safe place if persons like this
are free to drive on our roads.
Needs to face the “full force of the law”!
NO excuses.
What help has been offered to this woman?
You all drink alcohol you’re all addicted to sugar.
Fining her is not helping her
Obviously she shouldn’t be drink driving. But she wouldn’t be the only one.
Where are the services?
There is over an 18 month wait for an over the phone assessment, and God knows how long before any counselling available.
So who is really the criminal here?
The system. That’s who.
Because even as you’re bound to comment its her responsibility, perhaps she cannot afford to go private which is what people are now forced to do so services are innaccessible to most.
It’s not her who should be ashamed it’s you. For judging her.
She could have got the bus instead of driving.She alone made the decsion to drive
COBBLERS. She should know NOT to drive while taking drugs. It is about time that she was locked up and the keys thrown away to keep her from killing someone, maybe even you “Givemestrength”.
She is clearly affording drink, drugs and running a car…
And the bastards want my licence just because i’m 70. They need to get some priorities from where the real problem is
Agreed.