Drug driver caught by patrolling officers in Newport

AN ISLE of Wight man was caught drug driving by police on patrol after his van was stopped in Rookley.

Joshua Stephan, of High Street, Freshwater, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, June 25.

The 22-year-old admitted drug driving in Rookley, on January 15.

Prosecutor, Liz Miller, said police had been on patrol in the Rookley area in the early hours of the morning.

She said their attention was drawn to, and they stopped, a white van on Chequers Inn Road, and its driver, Stephan, admitted smoking cannabis not long before being pulled over.

The court heard he tested positive for cannabis, registering a reading of 2.5 when the specified limit is 2.

Bridget O’Hagan, defending, said Stephan – who had no previous convictions – was co-operative with police and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

She said he was in full time work and aware it was an expensive decision to drive after smoking cannabis.

Stephan was fine £230 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £92 surcharge.