Motorist Victoria Chesworth had more than four times the legal limit of cocaine in her blood when stopped by police
A cocaine-fuelled driver has been banned from the roads after she was more than four times over the legal drug-drive limit. Victoria Chesworth was spotted “driving erratically” on London Road, in Stoke-on-Trent, on July 18.
Officers pulled over the 46-year-old and said they “smelled alcohol”. It was then they discovered a small amount of powder in the back of her car, reports StokeonTrentLive.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Chesworth was found to have 45mu g/L of cocaine in her blood, well over the legal threshold of 10mu g/L. She also had a staggering 800b ug/L of benzoylecgonine in her blood – the breakdown product of cocaine – which is 16 times the legal limit.
Prosecutor Sherrie Henry told the court: “This matter occurred shortly after 11pm. Officers saw the defendant’s red Toyota Yaris which appeared to be driving erratically along the A52. She could be seen swerving repeatedly between lanes. Officers pulled the defendant over and smelled alcohol.
“They attempted to perform a breathalyser test. They were unable to get her to complete it successfully. A small amount of powder was found in the back of the defendant’s car. She was taken back to the police station where a drug test was performed.”
Chesworth, of Swallows Nest Close, Blurton, admitted two counts of drug-driving. Representing herself in court, Chesworth told magistrates her interim driving ban has left her ‘struggling financially and with transport’, asking for leniency.
She told the court in tears: “The swerving in and out of lanes, I disagree with, because I was following the one-way system. I believed the van behind me was getting too close. I didn’t realise it was the police.
“I only learned that later after they pulled me over. They could smell wine on me because I had made a beef bourguignon earlier that evening.”
“I struggled to do the breath test because I had a stroke last year. I agreed to do the blood test. The white powder they found in the car is a drug I take to manage my stroke symptoms.”
Magistrates handed Chesworth a 17-month driving ban alongside a 12-month community order incorporating 20 rehabilitation days. She has also been ordered to pay £239 in costs.
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