Newtown man drove after taking 'two lines' of cocaine

John Paul Davies, 34, of Lon Glanyrafon, Newtown, pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine and Methadone, along with driving while unfit through drugs.

He appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Stephen Davies, prosecuting, told the court that police stopped a Vauxhall on the evening of January 12.

Mr Davies said they told him they were going to search the vehicle for drugs at which point the driver (Davies) began to shake and decided to escape by running across the road towards some grass and trees.

The police brought him to the ground and arrested him.

Approximately two to three metres away from where the arrest was made, police found a cigarette tin containing a pipe, foil and what was believed to be cocaine.

Stephen Davies said that Davies was conveyed to the police station and had said he had taken two lines of cocaine; he was found to be positive after a test.

While in custody he was told his property would be searched and he said they would find methadone, given to him by a friend.

A blood test found Davies had 20 microgrammes of cocaine per litre, the legal limit is 10, and 200 microgrammes of BZE per litre, the legal limit being 50.

Methadone was also found in his system, below the legal limit.

Robert Hanratty, defending, told the court that Davies had been co-operating with probation services.

He added there was no evidence Davies’ driving was impaired.

Presenting a report on Davies, Victoria Baker, of the probation services, said he was very remorseful.

She said he admitted running off and that he was very sorry.

She added that he was in arrears with gas and electricity companies and needed support for substance misuse, blaming the fact that close relatives had passed away.

Magistrates gave him a 12 month community order, 30 days of rehabilitation activity and ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 surcharge.