Docking drug-driver in King’s Lynn court after caught using mobile phone behind wheel in Fakenham

A 22-year-old drug-driver said he did not realise he would still be over the limit a few days after taking cocaine.

Alex Howard, of Northcote in Docking, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said that at 6.40pm on May 2, police saw Howard driving while using his mobile phone and decided to pull him over in Fakenham.

The defendant was asked to carry out a drugs test, which came back with a reading of 321mcg of Benzolecgonine – a cocaine breakdown –per litre of blood. The legal limit to drive is 50mcg.

In mitigation, Tiffany Meredith said that Howard had taken the drug a few days prior during a bank holiday weekend.

“He was driving a works vehicle at the time and was tempted to check a message on his phone,” Ms Meredith said.

The solicitor explained that Howard went on the “wrong path” and was socialising with other people who were taking drugs, but has since stopped associating himself with those people.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120 for the offence.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £105 and a victim surcharge of £48.