Island drug driver caught after overtaking police while out on licence

AN ISLE of Wight drug driver was caught by police after overtaking officers while out on licence.

Joseph Medway, of John Street, Ryde, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, June 25.

The 27-year-old admitted drug driving in Newport, on Downend Road, on January 3.

Prosecutor, Liz Miller, said the attention of officers on patrol was drawn to a blue Audi at around 2.25pm.

She said Medway was the driver, overtook police, and went on to overtake another vehicle ahead of them, at an unsuitable location.

Medway was stopped and arrested, and registered a reading of 2.4 for cannabis, when the specified limit is 2.

The court heard Medway had a drug driving conviction from 2017, and had been out on licence when the offence took place following a drug supply conviction in 2022.

Bridget O’Hagan, defending, said Medway was a bit too keen to overtake.

She said he was unemployed but actively seeking work, and the reading was relatively low.

He had been at a New Year’s Eve party when he consumed the cannabis.

Medway saw his case adjourned to August 9 so a pre-sentence report could be drawn up.

He was made subject of an interim driving ban.