A Newtown mother who smokes cannabis to manage long‑standing health issues was told by magistrates that she was “endangering the lives of others and your family” by drug driving.
Mia‑Stevie Maeer‑Butterworth, 27, was twice caught driving while under the influence of drugs despite already being under police investigation for a similar offence.
Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard that Maeer‑Butterworth believed she was fit to drive on both occasions and was “surprised” when blood tests returned positive for cannabis, having not realised the Class B drug can remain in the bloodstream for several days.
She was disqualified from driving for 14 months after pleading guilty to drug‑driving offences in Newtown on October 22 and near Llangurig on November 10.
Police stops in Newtown and Llangurig
Prosecutor Helen Tench told the court that the defendant went on to commit further drug‑driving offences while results were still pending from an earlier incident in September, for which she received a 12‑month driving ban in late November.
PC Richard Bufton stopped Maeer‑Butterworth driving along Llanidloes Road in Newtown on October 22 after recognising her vehicle from the September incident. On Heol Vaynor, he noted that she had glazed eyes, and she admitted smoking cannabis regularly. She was arrested after a roadside drug wipe tested positive.
On November 10, PC Bufton saw the defendant driving along the A470 and stopped her on the A44 near Llangurig. He again observed glazed eyes, and Maeer‑Butterworth admitted smoking cannabis the day before.
Blood tests over legal limit
Blood test results from the two incidents showed readings of 3.1 and 3.5 microgrammes of Delta‑9‑Tetrahydrocannabinol respectively, exceeding the legal limit of two microgrammes.
“Despite being under investigation [for the September incident], she went on to commit further offences of drug driving,” Mrs Tench said.
“You may feel a longer sentence is necessary or that probation should be involved, bearing in mind the defendant’s persistent use of cannabis and her continued driving.”
Mitigation: health issues and family impact
In mitigation, solicitor Geraint Parry said it was “crucial” that the offences happened before Maeer‑Butterworth was sentenced in November and asked the court not to treat them as subsequent offending.
“She is already facing the consequences of being banned in terms of medical appointments and managing day‑to‑day family life," he said. "Any disqualification will have a severe impact on her ability to parent.
“She was working in a care home but left voluntarily due to her impending convictions.”
Mr Parry said his client suffers from long‑standing physical and mental health conditions, including chronic pain, ADHD and autism, and reacts poorly to prescribed medication.
“Since November she hasn’t been caught because she has been banned. There are already protective measures in place,” he added.
Probation report and sentence
Probation officer Julian Davies told the court that Maeer‑Butterworth said she smokes cannabis most nights “to cope with life better”. He added that she had a job interview for a catering role and was studying business management.
Magistrates imposed a nine‑month community order due to the seriousness of the case.
“These were three events in a short period of time which require assistance from [drug support service] Kaleidoscope,” the chair of the bench said.
“But what you are doing is endangering the lives of others and your family when you drug drive.”
Maeer‑Butterworth, of Lon Glanyrafon, Vaynor, was fined £110 and ordered to pay a total of £279 in court costs.
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