A Carlisle drug-driver described has been sentenced by magistrates who described his crime as a “costly mistake”.
Lee Gill, 28, came to the attention of police constables on full uniform patrol in the city on August 30 last year. They saw the brake lights of his Fiat Punto illuminate followed by the indicators.
The vehicle was stopped at Victoria Place by the officers, who carried out a breath test after seeing an open bottle of alcohol. This was negative but a drugs wipe proved positive for cannabis.
At Carlisle magistrates’ court today, Gill admitted driving with the proportion of a specified drug — the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis — over the legal limit.
A solicitor representing Gill, of Warwick Road, said he was a man without any previous convictions. The offence was out of character for the electrical engineer, who was “truly sorry” and “very shaken” by the possible consequences, both professionally and personally.
He had sought voluntary assistance since the incident.
Magistrates imposed a £370 fine, along with a £37 surcharge and £85 costs. He was also banned from driving for 12 months for what the Bench said had been a “costly mistake”.
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