a day ago
Carlisle man caught drug-driving twice in three weeks... on the same stretch of road
A CARLISLE motorcyclist was caught drug-driving on the same stretch of city road twice in less than three weeks.
Rhys Ponting, aged 26, of Linton Street, has been handed a 16-month ban following two incidents in successive months earlier this year.
At Carlisle Magistrates' Court, prosecutor George Shelley told how Ponting was first stopped on Eden Bridge, just after 3.30am, on February 13.
He was riding a Honda MSX 125.
Ponting was found to have only a provisional driving licence and was unable to prove his riding competence by showing a valid CBT (compulsory basic training) certificate, as required.
A roadside drug wipe proved positive for cannabis. And a subsequent evidential specimen revealed the level of a drug breakdown product in Ponting's bloodstream was above the legal driving limit.
The court heard Ponting did not know further action would be taken against him at the time he was stopped for a second time, just 19 days later.
On March 4, two police officers undertaking static observations identified a motorcycle — Ponting's Honda — which appeared to be speeding over Eden Bridge.
They followed the bike on to Kingstown Road where Ponting was given reasons for the stop. Officers detected the smell of cannabis. 'He had reddening around the eyes and slow speech,' said Mr Shelley.
Another roadside test proved positive for cannabis and a further evidential reading showed he was again over the legal driving limit.
In court Ponting admitted two drug driving charges; plus driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence on February 13; and failing to produce a motorcycle training course certificate of competence.
Mitigation was advance on his behalf by defence solicitor Duncan Campbell, who told how Ponting used cannabis on a therapeutic basis.
Consumption of the drug had been 'long before' each of the two incidents and not immediately prior, stressed Mr Campbell.
Ponting worked night shift for a waste recycling company.
Magistrates imposed £400 fines for each of the drug-driving offences which, with other court costs, left Ponting with a court bill totalling £1,290.
