Drug driving Flintshire motorcyclist ended up in hedge

Daniel Millson, of the A548 in Ffynnongroyw appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 25-year-old admitted that on March 24 at Llanasa Road in Gwespyr, he drove a Kawasaki ZX10 when the proportion of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) in his blood exceeded the specified limit.

He was found to have 3.9 micrograms of the substance per litre of blood - the limit being 2 micrograms.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court that just after midnight, police attended reports of a collision outside Emlyn's Coppice glamping site in Llanasa Road.

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There was debris "all over the road" and as the officers approached, they were pointed to a motorbike which had been picked up and put in the driveway of the glamping site.

They were told the rider had been taken to hospital by family members, having sustained a leg injury.

At Glan Clwyd Hospital, Millson confirmed to police that he had been the rider of the bike and he agreed to take a drugs swipe.

It returned the positive reading for cannabis, following which he gave the blood sample which led to his charge.

Bethan Jones, defending, told the court Millson worked for his family's nearby mechanical business and he had gone out to fetch parts needed for a car.

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On his way back he hit a pothole, she said, dislodging him and "putting him in the hedge."

He complied with all procedures and accepted that he had taken some cannabis at an earlier stage.

Mrs D McKinnell, chair of the magistrates, told the defendant: "Thank goodness you weren't hurt - that's the most important part of this.

"Having said that, you knowingly took drugs and took a motorcycle out.

"There's a reason why you can't take drugs and drive - your judgement is distorted.

"A motor vehicle is one of the most dangerous weapons we use every day; it can kill you and others."

Millson was fined £230 and ordered to pay £85 costs, as well as a £34 victim surcharge.

He was banned from driving for three years.

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