A PENRITH motorist found asleep in his car after he used cocaine had suffered a panic attack because he feared being jailed, a court heard.

Ashley Bell, 26, went missing eight days before he was due to be sentenced for a serious drugs offence on June 17 last year, Carlisle Crown Court heard. He was found by police after his mother raised the alarm.

Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone said police received a call from the defendant’s mother because she was concerned for his welfare.

She had not seen Bell for some time and so contacted the police to report him missing. As a consequence, police looked for the defendant and found him asleep in his parked Mercedes Benz in Gillan Way, Penrith.

“He was woken by the officers,” said the prosecutor.

Suspecting drugs use, the officers administered a roadside drugs swipe, which produced a positive result for cocaine. A later blood test confirmed that Bell had twice the legal limit of the Class A drug in his system.

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When he was found, the keys to his car were not in his car's ignition but in his pocket. He was consequently prosecuted for being in charge of a motor vehicle while over the limit for cocaine.

He admitted that offence and being in breach of a suspended sentence order. 

Mark Shepherd, defending, said Bell feared the worst would happen when he was sentenced by a West Yorkshire court on June 17. “That is what caused him to have a panic attack,” said the lawyer.

“He'd gone out to get a takeaway for his dinner and suffered the panic attack; he simply felt he had to leave. He parked up his vehicle for some considerable time.”

While his mother was trying to find him, Bell had gone for a five or six hour walk to clear his mind, said Mr Shepherd. He took cocaine during that time before returning to his car so he could sleep.

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As this was going on, his mother was "beside herself with worry". His brother was also trying to find him that day. Mr Shepherd said Bell had until now had a clean driving licence and was due to start a new job next week.

The lawyer added that Bell was suffering mental health difficulties and had trouble getting his prescribed medication and so self-medicated with illicit substances.

Judge Richard Archer accepted that Bell, of Brentfield Way, Penrith, feared being jailed on June 17 and as a result suffered a panic attack. It was to his credit that he had complied with the suspended sentence order.

But the 10-month delay in bringing the case to court meant Bell was in breach of only one of his two recent suspended sentences. But noting the defendant’s progress with his latest order, the judge said it was appropriate to not activate this and instead punish Bell with a fine.

For being in charge of a car while over the limit for cocaine the defendant was fined £380 and for breaching his suspended setnence order, he was fined £20. The judge also imposed 10 penalty points on the defendant’s licence.

Judge Archer told Bell he risked being disqualified for six months under the totting up provision if he commits even the most “minor” motoring offence – such as speeding. The resulting three penalty points would take him over the 12-point trigger for a ban.

The judge specified a three-day jail term in default should Bell fail to pay his fine. As Bell left the dock, the judge added: “I wish you the best of luck."

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