John Booth sentenced in King’s Lynn court after drug-driving at West Winch

A driver who was over the limit for two different drugs has been ordered to complete a programme to improve his mental health.

John Booth, 53, of Hospital Walk in Lynn, was disqualified from driving for 20 months when he appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday.

At a previous hearing in February, he had pleaded guilty to two counts of drug-driving, as well as possession of a Class B drug.

Magistrates had adjourned the case in order for a pre-sentence report to be carried out by the probation service.

The court heard that at around 5pm on July 11 last year, a police constable witnessed Booth driving along the A10 at West Winch heading towards Lynn.

Both Booth and a front seat passenger were attempting to cover their faces at the time - and after the officer recognised Booth, he was pulled over.

The constable noted the scent of cannabis coming from the vehicle, and Booth admitted recently having taken cocaine.

The officer proceeded to find 0.92g of cannabis in the car.

After testing positive for cocaine and cannabis at the roadside, Booth was arrested and taken into custody.

Evidential tests revealed that he had 26mcg of cocaine per litre of blood in his system, exceeding the legal limit to drive of 10mcg.

He also gave a reading of 7mcg for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a cannabis breakdown, exceeding the limit of 2mcg.

Booth was handed a 12-month community order for his offences. This will require him to complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He will also be subjected to a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a six-month alcohol treatment order.

Booth will pay £145 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge, while magistrates made an order for the cannabis found in his vehicle to be forfeited and destroyed.

His 20-month driving ban will be back-dated to start from February 22, when he was handed an interim disqualification.

Mitigating, solicitor Alison Muir had said: “He wants to comply, but he does admit that he needs additional help and support.”