Driver with 'pinpoint pupils' from cannabis blamed it on second-hand smoke

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A driver caught over the limit for cannabis claimed he had not been smoking the drug despite being found with glazed eyes and "pinpoint pupils" by police. Jevon Singh said the smell of smoke was just other people in his car smoking the drug instead.

Leicester Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday (October 10) that Singh, 19, had been with friends in his Audi Quattro in Meridian Leisure Park in Leicester. Prosecutor Sally Bedford told the court: "There was a smell of cannabis emanating from the vehicle. The officers reported that the defendant's eyes were glazed with pinpoint pupils."

Roshni Modi, representing Singh, of Christopher Drive, Thurmaston, said others in the car had been smoking cannabis and her client had not smoked any cannabis that day but had smoked some the day before. She added: "Since the incident he has stopped smoking cannabis altogether.

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Police noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from Jevon Singh's car
Police noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from Jevon Singh's car at Meridian Leisure Park -Credit:Google

As well as pleading guilty to driving while over the cannabis limit, Singh admitted he had no insurance. Ms Modi said the defendant believed the company that had rented the Audi to him had arranged the insurance.

She said he was doing an apprenticeship ahead of taking up a role in the family construction business. She added: "He is very sorry for his actions and ashamed to be before the court."

District Judge Amar Mehta told Singh: "You were driving a motor vehicle with a level of drugs that was over the limit. You showed obvious signs of impairment. You were driving when it was unsafe to do so and you could have injured some people."

Singh was banned from driving for 16 months and given a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.