PILLION PASSENGER WITH NO HELMET RESULTS IN ARREST OF DRUG DRIVER

A drug driver was stopped after Police noticed that the pillion passenger aboard his moped wasn’t wearing a helmet. Michael Elms, 37, of Central Way in Sandown, admitted drug driving (BZE) when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (16th August). Prosecutor Liz Miller told the court that on 11th June, at around 20:40, Police stopped a Yamaha moped being driven on Great Preston Road in Ryde after noticing the pillion passenger wasn’t wearing a helmet. Officers spoke to the driver – Elms – and established that he only possessed a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) licence and that he wasn’t legally allowed to carry any passengers on his moped. At the scene, a roadside drugs wipe was conducted in which a positive reading for benzoylecgonine – a cocaine breakdown product – was returned. Further tests carried out at Newport Police Station revealed Elms was more than double the specified limit. Defending, Jim Osborne, told the court that Elms regrets his behaviour on the day in question and that he drove because he didn’t realise the drugs would still be in his system. Elms himself – an ex heroin and crack addict – said that he had taken the cocaine on a night out. Magistrates handed Elms a 12-month ban and fined him £200. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and an £80 surcharge fee.