David Howard from King’s Lynn caught drug-driving with mobile phone in hand

A South Lynn drug-driver was caught by police after they spotted him on the phone and without a seatbelt while behind the wheel.

David Howard, 42, of The Portway, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was disqualified from driving because of his actions.

He pleaded guilty to three offences, which included driving above the specified drug limit as well as using a mobile phone when driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

Crown prosecutor Lesla Small said that on Tuesday, March 7, police officers spotted Howard at a junction on Wisbech Road in Lynn behind the wheel with his phone in his hand. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time.

He was pulled over by officers, who made Howard carry out a roadside drug swipe which came back positive for cocaine.

Howard was then arrested and taken to Lynn’s Police Investigation Centre for further tests to be carried out.

He provided a sample which showed he had 60mcg of Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine derivative, per litre of blood in his system. The legal limit to drive is 50mcg.

Howard appeared unrepresented in court, and said: “Well, I admit I did coke the week before. The week before it was my nan’s funeral – I don’t normally take it but it was a bad time.”

He told magistrates that he would lose his job because of the mandatory driving disqualification that comes with committing a drug-driving offence.

He was banned from the roads for 12 months, fined £253 and ordered to pay both a victim surcharge of £101 and £105 in court costs.