An M6 drug-driver has been banned from the road having also already lost his job in the services as a result of his offending.
Leo McAllister was heading north on the motorway near Penrith and travelling back to his place of work after celebrations ahead of his own 21st birthday when his crimes came to light on February 14.
A police officer on patrol formed the opinion McAllister’s BMW 116i was speeding and stopped it on the exit slip road at Southwaite services.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that officer spoke to the driver, noting that his eyes were glazed, his pupils dilated and that there was a smell of cannabis.
McAllister provided a positive roadside drugs wipe test, was arrested and had a blood sample taken while in custody. This showed that levels of a cocaine breakdown product and the main psychoactive substance of cannabis were above the legal driving limit.
In court today, McAllister admitted two drug-driving offences. A man of previous good character, he had taken drugs over the course of weekend celebrations but believed they would be out of his system by the time he got behind the wheel.
He had since lost his employment in the services, defence solicitor Duncan Campbell telling the court: “The consequences of his actions have already been pretty harsh.”
The district judge, John Temperley, took account of that job loss as he passed sentence. He imposed a 12-month community order comprising 80 hours’ unpaid work with McAllister, of Landemann Circus, Weston-super-Mare, also told to complete a 20-month driving ban and pay a £199 court bill.
“The aggravating factor is that there were two different drugs in your system at the time,” said Mr Temperley.
