A teen driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel while over the limit for cannabis.
A police officer was on patrol on Chainbridge Road, in Blaydon, Gateshead, on September 20, when he spotted a Citroen car making a left turn in an “erratic manner,” Newcastle Magistrates’ Court was told. The officer followed the car over Scotswood Bridge before indicating for it to pull over and speaking to Hardy, who was behind the wheel.
Paul Coulson, prosecuting, said: “He spoke to the driver. He observed Mr Hardy appeared to be nervous and chatty. He could smell a strong smell of cannabis. He asked if he had smoked cannabis and he admitted he had.”
A roadside drugs test was carried out, before Hardy was taken to a police station where a mechanical test was performed. It revealed he had 2.4 mg of THC, the main active component of cannabis, per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2.0.
Hardy, of Thornton Crescent in Blaydon, pleaded guilty to the offence of driving while over the limit for a controlled drug. The 18-year old was banned from from driving for 12 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £48.
Jonathan Cousins, mitigating, said Hardy was “extremely remorseful,” but disputed that his driving had been erratic.
“He’s 18 years of age, he lives with his parents, he has no previous convictions,” he said. “Towards the end of last year he had significant difficulties with his mental health. He’s now taking steps to improve his position. He’s about to enter training as an electrician. He’s got a strong work ethic.
“He’s extremely remorseful for coming before the court.”
In passing sentence the chair of the bench Leswyn McCallum said: “You are 18 years old. I don’t want to see you back in these courts.”