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Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
UK's 'oldest drug driver' claims cocaine was 'put in his drink' at 81st party
UK's 'oldest drug driver' claims cocaine was 'put in his drink' at 81st party Arthur Ball, 81, is one of the oldest people to be convicted of drug driving (Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd) An 81-year-old man has been convicted of drug driving, becoming one of Britain's oldest. Arthur Ball, uses two walking sticks, has hearing aids and has been in the care of a carer for 15 years, was stopped by police as he drove home after attending his birthday party. He was tested and was found to be three times over the limit for cocaine. When asked, the pensioner claimed he had not been drinking alcohol and said that he had never taken drugs. He said a guest at the party must have slipped cocaine into his lemonade, a court heard. Magistrates were told that unusually, his taxpayer-funded mobility car, a Toyota Yaris, had a police marker on it amid claims it was being used by a drug dealer. At Warrington magistrates court, Ball pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined £120 and banned from the roads for 12 months. It is thought his carer will now drive the car. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here Article continues below The court heard Ball was pulled over just after midnight on Marsh Street, Warrington, at 12.17am on June 2 - six days after his birthday. Nigel Jones, prosecuting, said: "On the day in question police had observed the vehicle and subsequently stopped it. The defendant was asked to provide a roadside breath test and a sample for a drug wipe. "The roadside breath test was zero, but the result for the drug test resulted in him being arrested. The blood test figures are identified in the charge." The blood test, the court heard, showed Ball had 162 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) per litre of blood in his system. BZE is a breakdown product of cocaine and the legal limit is 50 mg. His lawyer, Mark Lever said in mitigation: "He had been out for his birthday, a late birthday celebration. He had not been drinking. He believed that what he had drunk had been contaminated by cocaine, the MEN reported. "He does not use cocaine. He cannot bring evidence of that so he accepts that he has committed the offence. "He was pulled up by the police. Strangely, police have a marker on his car for a drug dealer. He is not a drug dealer. How it got there goodness knows. His driving was not impaired. He has not driven in an erratic manner. He would like to drive again, but he accepts he is going to find it difficult over the next 12 months.'' Ball, of Rudloe Court, Poulton-with-Fearnhead, Warrington, was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £48. Sentencing Ball, JP Andrew Pope said: "Anybody found guilty or who pleads guilty to driving when they have got drugs in their system all get disqualified. It's the law.'' Article continues below Figures show that in 2023, 124 people died in crashes involving a drug-impaired driver. The DVLA data suggests drivers in their late twenties are the worst offenders, with 25 being the most common age of disqualification for drug-driving. But in one year alone, 78 drivers over 60 years old were also prosecuted for failing drugs tests, with the eldest driver banned being a 74-year-old woman.
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
Drug driver, 81, told police someone slipped cocaine into his birthday lemonade
An 81-year-old has been disqualified from driving after he was found behind the wheel under the influence of cocaine. Arthur Ball was more than three times the legal limit when he was tested driving home from his own birthday party on June 2. Police had pulled Ball over just after midnight in Warrington, and his car – a Motability Toyota Yaris – had a police marker on it as potentially being used by a drug dealer. Ball said he had not been drinking alcohol or taking drugs, but while his roadside breath test result was a 0, the result of his blood test led to him being arrested. The pensioner claimed a guest at his birthday must have slipped a wrap of cocaine into his lemonade during the party. His results showed Ball had 162micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) per litre of blood in his system. BZE is a breakdown product of cocaine and the legal limit is 50mg. Ball appeared at Warrington magistrates court where he pleaded guilty to drug driving. He was fined £120, banned from driving for a year, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge. His lawyer Mark Lever said in mitigation: 'He had been out for his birthday, a late birthday celebration. He had not been drinking. He believed that what he had drunk had been contaminated by cocaine. He does not use cocaine. More Trending 'He cannot bring evidence of that so he accepts that he has committed the offence. 'He was pulled up by the police. Strangely, police have a marker on his car for a drug dealer. He is not a drug dealer. How it got there goodness knows. 'His driving was not impaired. He has not driven in an erratic manner. He would like to drive again but he accepts he is going to find it difficult over the next 12 months.' Figures released in 2023 suggested drug driving had become more common than drink driving, with an average of 80 drug drivers caught every day. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 'I was a top UK cocaine smuggler and I think Top Boy is completely ridiculous' MORE: Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi charged with three counts of attempted murder MORE: Funeral home director Robert Bush in court after human remains found at his premises
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
Britain's oldest drug driver claims cocaine was slipped into his lemonade during birthday party
An 81-year-old man is thought to be Britain's oldest drug driver after he was caught driving home from his own birthday party whilst under the influence of cocaine. Arthur Ball who needs hearing aids, uses two walking sticks, and has had a carer for 15 years tested three times the limit when officers stopped his Motability car. When quizzed the OAP, from Warrington, Cheshire, said he had not been drinking alcohol, never took drugs and claimed a fellow guest must have slipped a wrap of cocaine into his lemonade during the bash. Bu bizarrely his taxpayer funded Motability car a Toyota Yaris had a police marker on it amid claims the vehicle was being used by a drug dealer. At Warrington magistrates court, Ball pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined £120 and was banned from the roads for 12 months. It is thought his carer will now drive the Toyota car. The court heard Ball was pulled over at just after midnight on Marsh Street, Warrington, at 12.17am on June 2 - six days after his birthday. Nigel Jones, prosecuting, said: "On the day in question police had observed the vehicle and subsequently stopped it. The defendant was asked to provide a roadside breath test and a sample for a drugwipe. "The roadside breath test was zero but the result for the drug test, resulted in him being arrested. The blood test figures are identified in the charge. There are no aggravating factorse plice Blood tests showed Ball had 162 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) per litre of blood in his system. BZE is a breakdown product of cocaine and the legal limit is 50 mg. His lawyer Mark Lever said in mitigation: 'He had been out for his birthday, a late birthday celebration. He had not been drinking. He believed that what he had drunk had been contaminated by cocaine. He does not use cocaine. "He cannot bring evidence of that so he accepts that he has committed the offence. "He was pulled up by the police. Strangely, police have a marker on his car for a drug dealer. He is not a drug dealer. How it got there goodness knows. "His driving was not impaired. He has not driven in an erratic manner. He would like to drive again but he accepts he is going to find it difficult over the next 12 months.'' Ball was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £48. Sentencing Ball, JP Andrew Pope said: "Anybody found guilty or who pleads guilty to driving when they have got drugs in their system all get disqualified. It's the law.'' Figures show that in 2023, 124 people died in crashes involving a drug-impaired driver. The DVLA data suggests drivers in their late twenties are the worst offenders, with 25 being the most common age of disqualification for drug-driving. But in one year alone 78 drivers over 60 years old were also prosecuted for failing drugs tests, with the eldest driver banned being a 74-year-old woman.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Telegraph
81-year-old man caught driving under influence of cocaine
An 81-year-old man has been caught driving home from his own birthday party while under the influence of cocaine. Arthur Ball, who requires hearing aids, uses two walking sticks and has had a carer for 15 years, tested three times the limit when officers stopped his taxpayer-funded Motability car. The pensioner, from Warrington, Cheshire, insisted he had not been drinking alcohol, never took drugs and claimed a fellow guest must have slipped cocaine into his lemonade. At Warrington magistrates' court, Ball pleaded guilty to drug driving, was fined £120 and banned from the roads for 12 months. It is thought his carer will now drive his Toyota Yaris, which inexplicably had a police marker on it amid claims the vehicle was being used by a drug dealer. The court heard Ball was pulled over at just after midnight on Marsh Street, Warrington, at 12.17am on June 2 – six days after his birthday. Nigel Jones, prosecuting, said: 'On the day in question police had observed the vehicle and subsequently stopped it. The defendant was asked to provide a roadside breath test and a sample for a drugwipe. 'The roadside breath test was zero but the result for the drug test resulted in him being arrested. The blood test figures are identified in the charge.' Blood tests showed Ball had 162 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) per litre of blood in his system. BZE is a breakdown product of cocaine and the legal limit is 50 mg. Contaminated by cocaine Mark Lever, his lawyer, said in mitigation: 'He had been out for his birthday, a late birthday celebration. He had not been drinking. He believed that what he had drunk had been contaminated by cocaine. He does not use cocaine. 'He cannot bring evidence of that so he accepts that he has committed the offence. 'He was pulled up by the police. Strangely, police have a marker on his car for a drug dealer. He is not a drug dealer. How it got there goodness knows. 'His driving was not impaired. He has not driven in an erratic manner. He would like to drive again but he accepts he is going to find it difficult over the next 12 months.' Sentencing, JP Andrew Pope, said: 'Anybody found guilty or who pleads guilty to driving when they have got drugs in their system all get disqualified. It's the law.' Ball was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £48. Figures show 124 people died in crashes involving a drug-impaired driver in 2023. The DVLA data suggests drivers in their late twenties are the worst offenders, with 25 being the most common age of disqualification for drug-driving. But in one year alone 78 drivers over 60 years old were also prosecuted for failing drugs tests, with the eldest driver banned being a 74-year-old woman.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Britain's oldest drug driver, 81, took cocaine at his own birthday party before getting behind the wheel
A man aged 81 has become Britain's oldest drug driver after he was caught driving home from his own birthday party whilst under the influence of cocaine. Arthur Ball, who needs hearing aids, uses two walking sticks, and has had a carer for 15 years, tested three times the limit when officers stopped his Motability car. When quizzed, the pensioner said he had not been drinking alcohol, never took drugs and claimed a fellow guest must have slipped a wrap of cocaine into his lemonade during the bash. But bizarrely his taxpayer-funded Toyota Yaris had a police marker on it amid claims the vehicle was being used by a drug dealer. At Warrington magistrates court, Ball pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined £120 and was banned from the roads for 12 months. It is thought his carer will now drive the Toyota car on his behalf. The court heard Ball was pulled over just after midnight in his home town of Warrington, Cheshire on June 2 - six days after his birthday. Nigel Jones, prosecuting, said: 'On the day in question police had observed the vehicle and subsequently stopped it. Arthur Ball, 81, arriving at court where he admitted driving whilst under the influence of cocaine but claimed someone spiked his lemonade drink at his birthday party days earlier Arthur Ball (pictured) was pulled over while driving his taxpayer-funded Motability Toyota Yaris 'The defendant was asked to provide a roadside breath test and a sample for a drugwipe. 'The roadside breath test was zero but the result for the drug test, resulted in him being arrested. 'The blood test figures are identified in the charge. There are no aggravating features. Blood tests showed Ball had 162 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) per litre of blood in his system. BZE is a breakdown product of cocaine and the legal limit is 50 mg. His lawyer Mark Lever said in mitigation: 'He had been out for his birthday, a late birthday celebration. 'He had not been drinking. 'He believed that what he had drunk had been contaminated by cocaine. He does not use cocaine. 'He cannot bring evidence of that so he accepts that he has committed the offence. 'He was pulled up by the police. 'Strangely, police have a marker on his car for a drug dealer. 'He is not a drug dealer. How it got there goodness knows. 'His driving was not impaired. He has not driven in an erratic manner. 'He would like to drive again but he accepts he is going to find it difficult over the next 12 months.' Ball was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £48. Sentencing Ball, JP Andrew Pope said: 'Anybody found guilty or who pleads guilty to driving when they have got drugs in their system all get disqualified. 'It's the law.' Figures show that in 2023, 124 people died in crashes involving a drug-impaired driver. DVLA data suggests drivers in their late twenties are the worst offenders, with 25 being the most common age of disqualification for drug-driving. Bu in one year alone 78 drivers over 60 years old were also prosecuted for failing drugs tests, with the eldest driver banned being a 74-year-old woman.
