Yahoo News Former Prudhoe housing site manager caught drug-driving twice in less than three months
A former site manager at a housing development failed to learn his lesson after he was caught drug-driving on the same stretch of road twice in less than three months.
Undeterred from his first arrest, James Matheson once again got behind the wheel while over the limit for cocaine but was soon spotted by police, who believed his car was connected to an unrelated incident. A court heard that the 25-year-old was spoken to by an officer, who performed a drugs swipe after she could "smell cannabis" coming from the vehicle.
And while Matheson, of Broomhouse Road, Prudhoe, had cannabis in his system, it was under the legal limit, however, he was over the limit for Benzoylecgonine (BZE), which is a breakdown product of cocaine. Newcastle Magistrates' Court was told that Matheson's latest motoring offence happened on June 6 this year, less than three months after he was arrested for drug-driving, which also involved cocaine.
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Now, Matheson, who was given a 12-month driving ban for the first offence in September, has been given a further disqualification after he pleaded guilty to driving while over the specified drug limit. Claire Armstrong, prosecuting, said an officer spotted Matheson in a VW Golf on Adderlane Road, in Prudhoe.
She added: "The car came to a natural stop. This defendant was in the driver's seat and another male was in the passenger seat. The officer could smell cannabis. A roadside drugs swipe was conducted and was positive."
The court heard that Matheson had four offences on his record, two of which were for drug driving from the same incident three months earlier on March 31. Michael Crowe, defending, said Matheson had now put measures in place to lead a "healthier lifestyle".
Mr Crowe added: "He's disassociated himself from persons he was hanging around with earlier this year. His focus now is getting back into work. He used to be a site manager at Avant Homes."
Magistrates fined Matheson £200 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge. He was also banned from the roads for 12 months.
