Man sentenced for drug driving twice in 12 days

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 18:49 · Archive

Scott David Warburton was convicted of drug driving on two occasions in June, 12 days apart, after using cocaine as a substitute for antidepressant medication.

Scott David Warburton, 27, of Kendal, was convicted of drug driving on two occasions within 12 days and sentenced at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court. He was first stopped on 18 June in the early hours of the morning whilst driving a Volkswagen Scirocco on the A66 at Embleton. A drug test revealed a reading of 400 ug/L of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite produced when the body breaks down cocaine.

Just 12 days later, on the A591 at Rayrigg Road, Windermere, Warburton was stopped again and returned an identical reading of 400 ug/L of benzoylecgonine. Prosecutor Lee Dacre told the court there was no evidence of bad driving on either occasion. Warburton had a previous conviction for drug driving in 2021.

According to his solicitor Trystan Roberts, Warburton had experienced difficulties with his mental health medication. He was unable to obtain his prescribed antidepressant venlafaxine and had been told that cocaine possessed similar properties. His grandfather had recently died. Roberts said Warburton was now back on his prescribed medication.

The court sentenced Warburton to a £270 fine and imposed a driving ban of 42 months.

How it is being reported

• Drug driver caught twice in 12 days after using cocaine to self-medicateA MOTORIST has been sentenced for drug driving twice in a matter of days after using cocaine as a substitute for antidepressive medication.Cumberland News · 13 Nov, 18:18
• Drug driver caught twice in 12 days after using cocaine to self-medicateA MOTORIST has been sentenced for drug driving twice in a matter of days after using cocaine as a substitute for antidepressive medication.Westmorland Gazette · 13 Nov, 12:00
• Drug driver caught twice in 12 days after using cocaine to self-medicateA MOTORIST has been sentenced for drug driving twice in a matter of days after using cocaine as a substitute for antidepressive medication.NW Evening Mail · 13 Nov, 12:00

In this story: Scott David Warburton · South Cumbria Magistrates' Court · Kendal · Embleton · Windermere · Cumbria

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log