A Harrogate man who was almost 10 times over the legal drug-drive limit was sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (May 15).

Alan Hodge, of Newby Crescent, pleaded guilty to one count of drug-driving on February 20, 2025.

The case was adjourned until May 15 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were on duty on October 16 last year when they saw a car travelling particularly slowly.

Officers noted the car had “appeared to creep through a set of traffic lights without coming to a stop”, she said.

They stopped the car, which was being driven by Hodge, at the Conyngham Hall car park in Knaresborough and asked him to provide a drug sample.

Hodge complied and gave a positive reading, so he was arrested.

A blood sample taken at the police station later showed 484 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a by-product of cocaine breakdown – per litre of Hodge’s blood.

The legal limit is 50 micrograms.

The court heard several other substances were detected in the 57-year-old’s blood, but they did not exceed the legal limit.

Hodge is of previous good character, the court heard.

Defendant ‘did not realise drugs would still be in his system’

A probation officer read the pre-sentence report to the court during the hearing.

She said Hodge believes the nature of his driving led police to stop him and request a drug sample.

The court heard Hodge had taken cocaine the night before the offence, but he “did not think he felt any different to usual” when he decided to get behind the wheel the next day.

“He did not realise the drugs would still be in his system”, the probation officer said, but added he is “really remorseful”.

She told the court Hodge had been taking drugs at the time of the offence, as well as prescription medication, which he believes is why other substances were detected in his blood.

Hodge, who works for North Yorkshire Council, has voluntarily sought help from an agency and is now clean from drugs. 

He does not have any mental or physical health issues, nor does he drink alcohol.

When given the opportunity to speak in court, Hodge told the magistrates he had nothing further to add.

He was handed a 17-month driving ban, as well as a 12-month community order.

Hodge must complete 80 hours of unpaid work over the one-year period and was ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.