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17
May
‘I’m embarrassed about it to be honest’, Harrogate drug-driver tells court
A man was sentenced for a string of offences at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (May 15).
Daniel Alderson, of Kennion Court, pleaded guilty to drug-driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, driving without a valid test certificate and possession of a class B drug on April 16.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, but this was not read aloud in court on Thursday.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police officers were travelling along the A59 in the York area on February 19 this year.
Officers saw a car being driven on the road by Alderson at around 2pm and checks quickly showed the car was not insured.
The court heard police followed the car before stopping it on Boroughbridge Road.
Alderson was in the driver’s seat and had three passengers inside the car.
Ms Ibbotson said the officers could smell cannabis when Alderson opened the door.
“When police spoke to the defendant, he said he was dropping passengers off at York train station”, she added.
The 27-year-old defendant gave a positive roadside drug test and was arrested.
A blood sample taken at Fulford Police Station was later examined and recorded 7.6 micrograms of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Alderson’s blood.
The limit is just two micrograms.
Alderson had been banned from driving for one year just 12 days before the offence, meaning he did not have insurance or a valid test certificate.
A small quantity of cannabis was also found on Alderson at the time.
‘I was sleeping in my car for a while’
Alderson, who was not legally represented, told the court he used to be homeless and was “sleeping in my car for a while”.
When asked about the offence, Alderson said:
I’m embarrassed about it to be honest.
He added his “movement is not great” and often suffers from migraines.
“I spend about 75% of my time in bed with the lights off”, Alderson said.
The magistrates handed Alderson a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He must also wear an electronic curfew tag for 12 weeks.
Alderson was banned from driving for three years and the drugs seized will be destroyed.
He was also ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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