Yahoo News Paddy Conroy banned from driving after driving under the influence of cannabis in Northumberland
Northumberland man Paddy Conroy has been banned from driving for a year after he was caught driving under the influence of cannabis.
Newcastle Magistrates Court heard that on February 24 police officers were dealing with a vehicle that had broken down on the A69 near Corbridge, when Conroy arrived in his Ford Focus, presumably to "deal with" the broken down vehicle. Police officers became suspicious that the 64-year-old was under the influence of cannabis, and carried out a test.
Results showed that "not less than 2.8 micrograms" of THC were in his bloodstream per litre of blood, over the limit of 2mg. Brian Payne, prosecuting, withdrew a second offence relating to using a motor vehicle on a road or public place without third party insurance, and said: "This gentleman has been in trouble in the past, but I'm not going to dwell on that because he's been out of the court system for over 20 years and that shows good character."
Dressed in a brown jacket, black t-shirt, blue jeans and black trainers, Conroy, of Haydon Bridge, appeared in court without representation and pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit. In the hope of avoiding a driving ban, Conroy told the court: "I live rural, I live on my own and use the car to go to the shops because the nearest village is about a mile away.
He added: "I have smoked cannabis for 45 years, I smoke it to get to sleep, I don't use it when I'm driving. I have smoked it all my life, it doesn't affect me."
Driving under the influence of drugs carries a mandatory disqualification, and Conroy was banned from driving for 12 months. He was also fined £175, which was reduced to £116 due to his pleading guilty in court.
Conroy was also slapped with a victim surcharge of £46 plus costs of £85, bringing the total amount of money owed to £247.
