A man from Sandown who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs twice in the space of 5 weeks has been banned from driving.
24-year-old Benjamin Griffiths of Winchester Park Road, admitted driving whilst under the influence of cocaine and cannabis after a roadside test found it in his system on the 18th February.
The court heard that officers had stopped Griffiths and his vehicles 3 other occupants on Brading Road when they smelt a strong odour of cannabis.
Police proceeded to search the Ford Focus and subject Griffiths to a Drug Wipe roadside test which returned a positive result for cannabis and cocaine. An evidentiary blood sample was then taken and submitted to be analysed.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told Magistrates that on the 26th March – just 5 weeks later – officers on patrol followed Griffiths through Firestone Copse and noted his slow reactions and raised concerns about his driving due to his overshooting of bends.
He was once again pulled over and subjected to a roadside drugs test, which once again indicated the presence of cocaine and cannabis in his system.
Defending, Oscar Vincent told the court that his client was a chef by trade and worked long and irregular shifts for up to 6 days a week, causing him to use cocaine to manage his tiredness and keep him awake. Due to a congenital condition, Griffiths has no kneecaps, a bent spine and deformed thumbs – all of which give him pain which he controls using cannabis.
Magistrates were told that since the second incident the defendant had curtailed his lifestyle and avoided drug misuse.
Griffiths was handed a 3 year driving ban and a 12 month community order which included 80 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £150 in costs and a £95 surcharge.
Half a Gallon of four star and a match would work out very cost effective.
Give him credit for working, if he does. Most would be on benefits with that list of aliments. 40 years ago I was a chef in the pub trade. I never needed drugs or drink to get to work.
40 years ago we went out all night, grab an hours kip, get up go to work for 9 hours and do it all again, all without the aid of ‘recreational’ drugs.
Oscar Vincent, I know it’s your job but how do you sleep at night? You have to come up with some bull*hit excuse why this scum bag, ooops! your client, has been caught drug driving for the second time in 5 weeks. Total waste of space these people, they could kill other innocent road users. This bloke STILL didn’t get a custodial sentence. No deterrent whatsoever. I’d say it’s a joke, but it’s really not funny.
Quite right; Oscar Vincent; I do hope that your family aren’t future victims of this idiot.
Don’t get personal !!!! It’s not all black and white, but mostly gray. Oscar is a fair minded bloke who happens to be good at his job.