[A] Carlisle man was due to stand trial today [Fri] on a charge of ‘driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs’, but minutes before the trial was about to start, he accepted an alternative charge of ‘in charge of the vehicle’ and pleaded guilty to that charge.
Shaun Edward Ruddick, 45, formerly on Stonegarth, Carlisle, gave a new address as Beckworth Cottage, Southwaite to the court.
Magistrates in Carlisle were told a police officer found the Renault Laguna car parked at an “odd angle” at Westwood, Morton, with the engine running, the officer thought he “could smell what he thought was stale cannabis” coming from the car.
Ruddick underwent a roadside drugs swipe test which was negative, he then underwent further tests at Durranhill police station, a sample taken confirmed he had illegal drugs in his system.
Defending Alan Lovett said the statement from the officer, “car parked at an odd angle” was surely a subjective comment, his client has been free from illegal drugs for a while, but had “lapsed” just before February 27 the evening of the incident.
Mr Lovett explained to magistrates his client was never seen driving the car.
Ruddick pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to possession of class B, amphetamine and class B herbal cannabis which the court was informed was for his own use.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £80 and 10-penalty-points on his licence for the offence of been in charge of a vehicle, and £80 on each drug possession charge, he has to pay court costs of £85 with a victims surcharge of £20, forfeiture of the drugs was ordered.
