A TEAM leader urged magistrates to consider the cost-of-living crisis when imposing sentence on a Sellafield employee who was caught driving while more than 10 times over the limit for a cocaine breakdown product.

Greg Stainton, 29, told Workington Magistrates’ Court that he had been placed on enhanced drugs testing by his employer, after being caught drug-driving in Workington on April 4.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court that police had stopped Stainton while he was driving a Hyundai i10 on Solway Road, with an enquiry about the insurance on the car.

Stainton was spoken to and due to 'the signs he was displaying', it became apparent that a drugs wipe should be carried out.

The defendant was arrested when the test was positive. A blood test taken in police custody revealed that Stainton had 626mcg of Benzoylecgonine – a breakdown product of cocaine - per litre of blood.

The legal limit is 50mcg.

Stainton, who was unrepresented when he appeared at court on Monday, read out a character reference from his team leader at Sellafield.

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It said that Stainton 'has always shown a professional attitude' and 'always followed the rules'. 

The court heard that Stainton works a five-day shift pattern and there was 'no flexibility to work outside these hours'. Public transport isn’t always available. 

His team leader said in the statement that any ban would affect Stainton’s ability to work and urged magistrates to consider this in a cost-of-living crisis.

The statement went on to say that it was a 'one-off event' and 'totally out of character'.

Stainton told the court: “The people I was with – I have separated myself from those people. I’m on enhanced testing from work since April. They are completely random. I have passed them. I will be on that for two years.” 

The defendant, of Prospect Row, Cleator, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit.

Passing sentence, lead magistrate, Heather Stuttard said: “You are in a high-risk area. I think you have learned a very valuable lesson.”

Stainton was banned from driving for 15 months. He was fined £484 and must pay £85 costs and a £49 victim surcharge.

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