Woman caught speeding while on cannabis moans road ban would have 'effect on social life'

A young driver caught on a motorway whilst the influence of cannabis whinged a would affect her social life.

Bryony Barker was given a 14-month disqualification anyway after she tested more than three times the drug-driving limit when she was caught speeding at more than 70mph on the M62.

She was hauled before court where she told magistrates a ban "would have a massive effect on work and social life". Despite her plea, Barker, 26, was given the driving ban and fined £563.

The defendant, who is a site visitor, told JPs in Warrington, Cheshire: "I would just like to say, I know I put the public in danger. But this is going to have a massive effect on work and social life. I know I have done wrong and I would like to apologise.

"I do site visits, I am not going to be able to do that. And I use the car to go to and from work. It is going to have an effect on my social life. My mum has recently been ill with cancer. It is going to affect my life massively."

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But the court was told the woman was stopped while driving her VW eastbound on the M62 and a police officer noticed the smell of cannabis. A drugs test was conducted at the roadside on the evening of Saturday May 11.

Chairman of the bench, Paul Chadwick, said: ""We have heard your personal circumstances and we are sorry to hear about your mum. You have said this is going to impact your work and you have shown remorse. You have offered a prompt guilty plea.

"But you were pulled up on the motorway because of the standard of driving, excess speed and under the influence of drugs. That has inflated the base level of the disqualification. If you are caught driving during that period you will be brought back before the court for disqualified driving and you could face a custodial sentence.''

Barker, of Urmston, Greater , had 6.7 micrograms of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per litre of blood. THC is the principal active ingredient in cannabis and the legal driving limit is 2mcg/l.

Kassem Nouredddine, prosecuting, said: "She was stopped for travelling in excess of the speed limit. As the officer approached the vehicle he noticed the smell of cannabis.

"A Drugwipe test was conducted at the roadside, which tested positive for cannabis. She was arrested and taken to custody. In terms of antecedents she has none. The defendant is of good character."

Barker pleaded guilty to drug driving and was ordered to pay £315 in costs and victim surcharge