A MOTORIST from Tebay who was caught drug driving has been given a 17-month ban and a £640 fine.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, 23-year-old Robert Wilson admitted a drug driving offence involving a cocaine breakdown product and failing to stop when required to do so by a police officer.

The police began looking for the defendant’s Ford Fiesta because he was suspected of recently using cocaine and cannabis, the court heard. 

Just before 6am, police officers spotted the defendant's car on the A685, driving from Tebay towards Kendal. When the defendant noticed the police car, the manner of his driving changed, the court heard.

“He turned off the A685 on to single track road and failed to stop for the police officers,” said George Shelley, prosecuting. The defendant then abandoned his car and ran off across a field.

“There was a pursuit on foot and the officers caught the defendant and arrested him for failing to stop,” said the prosecutor.

At the roadside, Wilson tested positive for both cannabis and cocaine. A later test showed that he was under the legal limit for cannabis but he was over the limit for the cocaine breakdown product benzoylecgonine.

He had 800mcg per litre of blood, the legal limit being 50mcg. The defendant had not previous convictions.

Legally unpresented, the defendant told magistrates from the dock of the court: “I really want to apologise. It was so out of character for me. I am not that person at all.

"As soon as I saw the blue lights, I completely panicked.”

The defendant said his father had been dying of cancer at the time and he had not been in a good place. “I was in with the wrong crowd but thankfully I am better now,” he said.

He said he was a mechanic and had made a “silly mistake” but had lost his job as a result of what he had done. The DVLA had also suspended his driving licence but he had sought help.

Wilson, from Church Street, Tebay, added that he was due soon to start a new job while he tried his best to get back on his feet.

Magistrates fined him £640, with a £256 victim surcharge and £85 costs. There was no separate penalty for the failing to stop offence.