Ollerton cocaine driver quit job ahead of inevitable ban

Christopher Price's BMW was pulled over on Old Rufford Way, on December 29, last year, after reports that the driver of a similar car had been involved in spray-painting graffiti, said prosecutor Sanjay Jerath.

"There was no suggestion he was involved in criminal damage," he said.

"He admitted drinking alcohol and taking cocaine."

A blood test revealed Price had 464 mcgs of the Class A drug in his system, when the specified limit is 50 mcgs.

"Although it's significantly higher, there is case law to suggest you can make a comparison with alcohol because of the way cocaine breaks down in the bloodstream," said Mr Jerath.

Abbie Edwards, mitigating, said Price, of previous good character, had not driven the car badly and was fully cooperative with police before entering an early guilty plea.

She said he had worked as a student lettings agent for 12 years, but handed in his notice because he needs a driving licence to do the job.

Price began drinking heavily and using cocaine after his father died "abruptly," last September, Ms Edwards added.

But she said his arrest had been a "wake-up call" and he was “now getting his life back on track."

Price, 30, of Holgate Road, Nottingham, admitted driving with a controlled drug above the specified limit, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Thursday, July 15.

He was banned for 12 months, fined £166 and was ordered to pay a £34 surcharge and £85 costs.

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