Three-year ban for drug driver caught twice in 10 weeks

Magistrates tell 22-year-old: "This is going to be a very expensive experience"

A Laxey man has been banned from the road after being caught drug driving twice in 10 weeks.

Andrew Iain Macmillan, of Art Reayrt, had cannabis in his system on both occasions.

Magistrates who sentenced the 22-year-old at Douglas Courthouse told him his offending would be a ‘very expensive’ mistake.

He'd previously admitted two offences of being over the legal limit and two of possessing cannabis. 

Police stopped Macmillan on Braddan Road, just after midnight, on 22 November last year after noting an issue with his Vauxhall Corsa.

His eyes were red and glazed, he smelt of cannabis and he was nervous.

He failed a drug wipe test and was arrested and taken to Police Headquarters where further tests showed he was almost double the legal limit.

Almost four grams of the Class B substance was also found in his vehicle which had a street value of £26.

Ten weeks later, on 31 January, Macmillan was stopped by police again and detained for a drug search – another drug wipe test was carried out, which he failed, and 0.2 grams of the drug was found in his vehicle.

During sentencing Macmillan's advocate said he had taken steps to change his lifestyle adding: "This is an incredibly unfortunate position. He does accept his offending in full." 

Fining him £2,000, and ordering him to pay £125 in prosecution costs, Magistrates told Macmillan: "You are a young man with a lot of potential. You now have the opportunity to turn your life around.

"This is going to be a very expensive experience for you."

Macmillan was also disqualified from driving for three years and until he’s taken and passed an extended driving test.