Speeding driver took so much cocaine his blood sample was beyond test range

A speeding driver who took so much cocaine that his blood sample was beyond the range of testing has been given a suspended sentence.

Anthony Tutt, 23, was seen driving his Audi A3 at high speeds in Eastbourne by police who then traced the vehicle to his home.

Tutt admitted he was the driver after being arrested on his driveway but then claimed he had taken a "big fat line" of cocaine only after exiting the vehicle last August.

Tutt, of Kings Drive, Eastbourne, was charged with drug driving and driving without due care and attention.

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He appeared at Hastings Magistrates' Court on 25 July, where he admitted the charges and was handed a suspended six-month sentence.

In court, it was revealed that Tutt was tracked down at his home on 29 August last year by officers from the Roads Policing Unit.

He completed a DrugWipe test that he was positive, so he was arrested and taken into custody.

Later, he gave a positive sample for 183 micrograms (mcg) of cocaine per litre of blood, with the legal limit being 10mcg.

The chemical breakdown of cocaine, called benzoylecgonine, was also tested and was more than 800mcg per litre of his blood. The legal limit for this element is 50mcg per litre of blood.

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PC Michael Dunn, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: "The cocaine levels in Tutt's samples were found to be off the chart and above the limit that the machine could test for.

"He admitted driving the Audi but said he was not aware of his high-speed, and claimed he had only taken a 'big fat line' of cocaine after exiting the vehicle.

"But he also said that because of a relationship break-up he had been taking large amounts of the class A drug every day for two weeks."

The court also ordered Tutt to complete 200 hours of unpaid work as part of his sentence.

He must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions (RAR), and pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

The court disqualified Tutt from driving for three years and ordered him to complete an extended retest before he is allowed to get his licence back.