A MAN from the West Midlands who got in his car after taking drugs was later involved in a road accident nearly 100 miles away from home in Newtown

When police officers arrived at the scene of the accident, on Llanfair Road in Newtown, at 5am on January 14 this year, they found a badly damaged Vauxhall Astra, but no sign of the driver. Welshpool Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday, July 27, that officers deemed it very likely – due to the scene and damage to the car – that the driver would have sustained injuries from the crash.

A dazed Nathan Edgington then approached officers and, after being treated at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for his injuries, was arrested for drug driving. He received a suspended prison sentence this week as it was the second time in three years that he had been convicted of drug driving.

Prosecutor Helen Tench told the hearing that the reading of benzoylecgonine in Edgington’s blood was 58 micrograms, exceeding the prescribed limit, which is 50mcgs. The 29-year-old admitted a charge of drug driving.

"In interview he said he had been out since 5pm the previous day and had drunk a few small bottles of Budweiser. He had got into an argument with his girlfriend and had taken some diazepam tablets then took the whole strip," she said.

“He said he didn’t remember getting in the car, he only remembered getting out and walking away following the crash, then he saw the blue flashing lights.”

The court heard the defendant, from Solihull, was now staying at a cousin's address at Pentre Hedyn, Newtown.

Owain Jones, acting for Edgington, said: “The defendant accepts it was wrong to get behind the wheel.

“He never fled the scene, he wasn’t far away and when police arrived he made himself known.

“Since the incident, he has approached Kaleidoscope to address some of the issues in his life.”

Probation officer Andy Pearson said: “Cocaine is linked to alcohol use, but he hasn’t drunk for a few weeks.

“He is terrified of prison. He had never been before and doesn’t want to go. He is very fearful and was very remorseful in interview.”

Chair of the bench, Rebecca Klug, told Edgington: “This is the second time you have been convicted of drug driving in the space of three years and the manner of your driving was so bad it resulted in a collision.

“We believe this offence has crossed the custody threshold. We are sentencing you to 12 weeks custody, but are suspending it for two years because we want to give you the opportunity to address your drug use so this never happens again.”

Magistrates ordered Edgington to continue working with probation and Kaleidoscope, and to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days, plus 100 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a £128 surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for three years.