Northampton drug-driver banned for 28 months after being stopped twice in five days

A Northampton man landed a 28-month ban after being caught six times over the drug-driving limit twice in less than a week.

Magistrates heard how tests showed Jamie Dunn had 65 microgrammes of cocaine per litre of blood after he was stopped in York Way, Northampton, on June 12 last year.

The threshold limit is ten microgrammes per litre of blood.

Five days later, on June 17, Dunn was stopped again driving the same Citroen Berlingo van in Moulton. Tests again showed the 40-year-old had 65 microgrammes of cocaine per litre of blood.

Dunn, of Irons Road, Lower Harlestone, pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared at court earlier this month.

He was banned for 16 months for the initial offence and a further 12 months for the second.

Magistrates also fined him a total of £430 and ordered him to pay a total of £204 towards prosecution costs and a surcharge to fund victims services.

Driving under the influence of drink or drugs is one of the ‘Fatal Four’ motoring offences — alongside speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using hand-held devices behind the wheel — which are most commonly linked deaths and serious injuries on roads.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper while out for your essential shopping.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you