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24
Aug
Harrogate man drove under influence of three drugs days after being disqualified
A Harrogate man has pleaded guilty to five charges, including drug-driving, driving while disqualified and driving without third-party insurance.
Callum McLachlan, 25, was disqualified from driving for 45 months on April 2 after being found guilty of driving under the influence of drugs earlier in the year.
Four days later, on April 6, he was stopped by an undercover traffic constable and tested for drugs.
He was sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (August 20).
McLachlan, of Woodfield Road, was over three times the legal limit of cocaine, as well as over 10 times the legal limit for a cocaine breakdown product (BZE).
He was also over the limit for cannabis and had a low level of ketamine in his system.
His defence said:
He was suffering from a really bad breakup. He has been diagnosed with depression, and was feeling suicidal, so to manage those feelings he took drugs. He understands that he should instead have gone to see his GP.
She added that he is a carer for his mother, who has significant health issues, and this has added to his stress.
The prosecutor highlighted that this was his “third strike”, and that while he had previously been given 120 hours of community service, he had failed to attend all but three sessions, totalling around 30 hours.
McLachlan was given 16 week sentence, suspended for 12 months, as well as 180 hours community service. He also has to attend a drug rehabilitation course for six months, is disqualified from driving for 41 months and was ordered to pay a fine of £239.
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