A RHAYADER father has been disqualified from driving for three years after being caught driving while under the influence of drugs for a second time in three years.
Craig James Barrett, 34, admitted a charge of drug driving when he appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court last week.
Barrett had been punished for a similar offence in 2020 and even though the amount of cannabis in his system when police stopped him near his home on November 23 last year was only a fraction over the legal limit, he received a lengthy ban.
Drug drivers who commit repeat offences within a 10-year period are handed an automatic three-year ban under UK law.
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Barrett was driving a Vauxhall Astra when he was stopped by officers on the A44 near Rhayader on the afternoon of November 23.
A roadside test proved positive and a later reading found there to be 2.3 micrograms of the Class B drug in his system – the legal limit is 2 micrograms.
“PC Jones spoke to the defendant, he believed he was under the influence, he asked him to provide a drug wipe, which was positive,” prosecutor Stephen Davies told the court last Wednesday, March 15.
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“The defendant has a previous matter similar in nature from 2020.”
Gareth Walters, acting for Barrett, said: “This is a simple case, with the aggravating factor that he has the previous conviction.
“The defendant wants to make it very clear he hadn’t smoked cannabis that day, he had smoked the previous day. He did not feel impaired in any way and there was no evidence of impairment.
“He works part-time as a business operations manager for the civil service and studies the other half and is doing a part-time history degree in Aberystwyth. He works from home so will be able to maintain his employment.”
In addition to the three-year road ban, magistrates fined Barrett £200 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and an £80 surcharge.
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