A West Cumbrian man has told a court he is now drug-free and seeking to mend his ways after being caught driving on the M6 having taken cocaine.
Ryan Benson, 38, of Mill Street, Frizington, was caught out by police who had been alerted to a broken down vehicle on the motorway between junctions 39 near Shap and 40 at Penrith on July 20.
They found a Nissan X-Trail and passengers, with Benson identified as the driver.
“His demeanour was excitable, over-chatty and generally hyperactive,” prosecutor Peter Bardsley told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today.
A test proved positive for cocaine with a blood sample later showing the presence of a breakdown produce of the class A drug which was more than eight times the legal limit.
In court Benson admitted a drug-driving charge and, speaking in his own defence, told how he had received professional help since the date of the offence which was long overdue. In addition, he hadn’t driven in the last two months.
“At the moment everything is positive,” he said. “I’m didn’t realise how much of a problem I had until that happened. I’m drug-free.”
Hearing that Benson had committed a similar offence in 2017, District Judge John Temperley imposed a three-year driving ban.
Benson must also pay a £200 fine along with an £80 mandatory surcharge and £85 costs.
