An Appleby Horse Fair visitor caught drug-driving after asking a police officer for directions while smoking a cannabis joint has been handed a 17-month ban.
Fiona George, 52, was behind the wheel of a silver Citroen vehicle on June 7 at the annual event.
A police constable on duty on Long Marton Road in Appleby, at around 215pm, saw the Citroen pulled over as the driver asked for directions.
The officer immediately detected the smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle and saw the female driver smoking what was presumed to be a cannabis joint.
George was asked to — and did — comply with a roadside drug wipe test which gave a positive reading for cannabis.
An evidential sample was analysed and later showed the level of the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis in her bloodstream was above the legal driving limit.
Attending court remotely over a video link George, of Parc Mellon, Penzance, admitted drug-driving.
Addressing magistrates, George confirmed that the prosecutor’s outline of the offence in June was correct.
She spoke of smoking cannabis since the age of 12 due to mental health problems and personal trauma and of being disabled and a part-time wheelchair user.
George was given a £200 fine and must serve a 17-month driving disqualification.
She must also pay £85 costs and an £80 mandatory surcharge.
