Dad-to-be caught driving on drugs

A young father-to-be caught driving his girlfriend’s car after using cannabis has been urged to tackle his drug habit before their baby arrives.

Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court heard Lewis Campbell got behind the wheel of the Audi A1 to drive to football training, as the person who usually took him was not available.

But the 20-year-old only had a provisional driving licence and was stopped by police for a routine document check on Grove Road, Up Holland, on June 24.

Officers could smell cannabis and found a bag of the drug in the car, Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, told the court. Campbell admitted he had previously smoked cannabis and a drugs test proved positive.

He told magistrates: “I know it was stupid and I shouldn’t have done it.”

He pleaded guilty to drug-driving, possession of class B drug cannabis, driving other than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.

A probation officer, who had interviewed Campbell, said he made the “foolish” decision to take his girlfriend’s car to get to the practice match, rather than asking someone else to take him or not going.

Unemployed Campbell, who lives with his father on Birkrig, Skelmersdale, is expecting his first child in September with his girlfriend.

The probation officer said he regularly spends £30 to £40 on cannabis and smokes on a daily basis. He has been diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and receives medication for ADHD, so she said unpaid work may not be an appropriate punishment for him.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity days and a 12-month driving ban.

He must pay a £300 fine, £90 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Jeffrey Thomas Armstrong, chairman of the bench, said he had noted the amount of money Campbell spends on cannabis and that he needed help to stop using it. He told Campbell: “You have got a child due in September. That may be the ideal time to think about things and stop it before your child comes along.”