A DRUG-DRIVER convicted of his third driving offence had been unable to claim benefits due to his partner’s immigration status, a court was told.  

Jalal Uddin, 46, was stopped by police on William Street in Workington on September 24.

There was a smell of cannabis and a drugs wipe was positive, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

He was arrested and a blood sample was taken from him at the police station. This showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per lite of blood. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee said that Uddin had previous convictions for driving with excess alcohol in 2005 and driving with excess drugs in 2017.

Uddin, of Ling Close, Northside, Workington, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said Uddin had been suffering with anxiety and depression and had been taking cannabis.

The defendant had been “profoundly affected” by a burglary which occurred while he was present, the court was told.

Mr Woolaghan said: “He has very recently secured employment in a restaurant in Keswick.

“His partner has just come from Bangladesh. He has been relying on savings and has not been able to claim benefits because of the immigration status of his partner.”

Uddin was disqualified from driving for three years. He was fined £323 and must pay £85 costs and a £129 victim surcharge.

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