Clenchwarton man in King’s Lynn court after drug-driving in Tilney All Saints

A 24-year-old expressed “clear remorse” after being caught drug-driving along a village road.

Joseph Baker, of Main Road in Clenchwarton, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

He pleaded guilty to drug-driving – an offence he committed on February 27 this year.

Crown prosecutor Colette Harper told magistrates that on that date, police pulled Baker over while he was driving his BMW 1 Series along School Road in Tilney All Saints.

The officer felt that Baker was “unsteady on his feet”, and noted that the vehicle smelled of cannabis.

A search of the vehicle revealed no drugs, but a roadside test on Baker returned positive results.

He was therefore arrested and taken into custody, where evidential tests revealed he had 5.2mcg of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol – a dirivative of cannabis – per litre of blood in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Appearing unrepresented in court, Baker – who had no previous convictions or cautions – said: “There is no excuse for what I done.

“I apologise for my selfish actions. I have nothing else to really say, apart from it was a really stupid mistake and I am happy to face the consequences for my actions.”

Magistrates, led by Alan Hayes, disqualified Baker from driving for 12 months.

They also fined him £257, and ordered him to pay £105 in legal costs and a £103 victim surcharge.

Mr Hayes said: “It is quite clear that you are sorry it happened, and there is clear remorse there.”