Cannabis-fuelled South Yorkshire driver caught by police
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Carl Michael Walton, aged 39, of Roughwood Road, Kimberworth Park, Rotherham, was stopped by police and was found to be over the limit to drive with cannabis in his system, according to a Sheffield Magistrates’ Court hearing on September 30.
Chantel Lowry-Green, prosecuting, said Walton was stopped on April 28 and he smelled of cannabis and officers found cannabis in a container.
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Hide AdMs Lowry-Green added Walton failed a drug-swipe test and later registered over the limit for the cannabis derivative Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol.
Police also pulled Walton over after he had been seen driving on Roughwood Road on June 29 and he was found with cannabis in his pocket and under the driver’s seat which he said was for personal use.
Walton, who has a previous driving ban, pleaded guilty to exceeding the limit for cannabis while driving and to two counts of possessing cannabis.
Abigail Rolling, defending, said: “He had a fairly impoverished up-bringing and his deterioration in health is attributable mainly to an addiction to alcohol primarily and he describes himself as a recovering alcoholic.”
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Hide AdMs Rolling added Walton’s previous driving ban was due to a relapse when his relationship ended and after suffering wirh anxiety, depression and arthritis he smokes cannabis for medicinal reasons.
However, Walton, who has children and grandchildren, has reduced his use of cannabis, according to Ms Rolling.
Magistrates fined Walton £200 and he must pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.