A man from Shanklin who drove along a busy Ryde road at what was described in court as ‘walking pace’ has pleaded guilty to driving whilst under the influence of drugs at the time.
Matthew Beale, 44, of Princes Way in Shanklin, pleaded guilty to 1x drug driving and 1x possession of a controlled drug (Class B) when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that at around 19:40 on 6th July, Police were in the car park of Tesco Extra in Ryde when they noticed an odour coming from Beale’s Vauxhall Astra. Beale then exited the car and went into the supermarket.
Officers waited for Beale to return to his car and witnessed him driving off – at almost walking pace.
A short while later on Brading Road, Police deployed their blue lights and attempted to stop the 44-year-old. The initial attempts to do so didn’t work so officers had to get in front of Beale to stop his car. He exited the car, forgetting to put the handbrake on.
A roadside drugs wipe was conducted with the result indicating positive for cannabis. In his vehicle Police found a small bud and 2 wraps of the substance too.
At Newport Police Station a blood sample was taken with Beale giving a reading of 7.7ug/l – the legal limit is 2ug/l.
Defending, Barry Arnett said that Beale had accepted culpability for his actions and that he had not long split up from his long-term partner, with whom he shares children.
Matthew Beale was handed a 16-month driving disqualification by Magistrates, fined £250 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge fee of £100.
I am starting to think i am the only person on the island not taking drugs
They should rename the Island ‘Drug Isle’
Most Roads stink of the stuff.
At least he was stopped and didn’t kill anyone, but why such a lenient sentence. He should be banned and car removed as as for his excuse re partner and children – not surprised – let’s hope the children don’t end up like him.
No the bloke has a problem when my wife left me I didn’t get off my face on drugs
Who was the victim and why do they get £100?
It’s to help pay their electricity bills.
It goes into a fund for victims
It’s not just drugs either. I was followed by a young female driver yesterday who not only read her phone each time we stopped, but also regularly while driving all the way from Ryde town to Tesco. This is in addition to another young female on Sunday who drove past me with one hand on the wheel whilst holding her phone to her ear with the other. I could see this from quite a way off and was relieved she managed to swerve to avoid a person crossing the road. She did well and kept her phone to her ear all the time.
I’ve noticed an increase in people using mobile phones when driving, I thought this was banned even if you had a hands free set.
drink or drugs driving should be automatic 10 year ban…
So I follow a police van from Newport to Shanklin yesterday never went above 30 mph, even though there was nothing in front of him, causing a long tailback of vehicles? Not once did the driver use indicators, used brakes for no reason, cut me up at lake roundabout using both lanes, maybe look at themselves sometimes, and I’m not anti police before you computer warriors say I am, as an ex firefighter with 20 years experience and blue light instructor just saying works both ways. Oh p.s. I hate drug/drink drivers so not supporting these either been to to many accidents in my time
I was informed by my driving instructor many many years ago that driving too slow is an offence, as long as you stay in the recommended speed limit for that particular road you will be OK. Is this now not the norm?
You are right but driving 25 mph in 50 mph limit and braking when nothing in front of you is not the norm, it can be class as dangerous for other road users
From the headline “Shanklin man who drove at walking pace” I thought it was going to turn into another ageist rant about pensioner who drive etc etc.
Next time the impatient drivers rant and rave about not being able to proceed at twice the speed limit, think on, the old git in front may just be a young git who is stoned…
And next week he will probably be out driving illegally.
Should also be banned from seeing his children, behaving like that epitomises why he should not have any parenting responsibility, is evidently not a suitable role model for his children and they would probably be better off without him in their life.