Driver who admitted to police he’d just taken cocaine allowed to keep licence

A driver from Holbeach who told police he had just taken cocaine in his car has kept his licence.

Aaron Mason was parked on the side of Foxes Low Road in the road with the Kia Ceed’s engine
running.

Police were suspicious about what the 23-year-old was up to and saw white powder all over the
centre console.

Boston Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that Mason told officers: “I’ve just taken
cocaine.

“It’s spilt all over the floor – you can see it.”

Following arrest, a test showed the defendant had 25 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood in
his system, which is two-and-a-half times the legal limit of ten.

Mason, of The Brambles, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while over the cocaine
limit.

In light of that plea, a second similar charge relating to the body breakdown product of cocaine
was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Dav Naghen, mitigating, said his client had been very compliant with police at the roadside.

“He told them exactly what had been going on,” the solicitor added.

Because of the impending court case, Mason had had trouble sleeping, causing him to lose
some factory work and be off with stress, Mr Naghen said.

Imposing ten penalty points and an £80 fine, District Judge Peter Veits suggested to Mason that
he had been fortunate.

“There’s a fair amount of evidence that you had recently taken [the cocaine].

“There’s no evidence you drove to the scene in drugs and no evidence that you were about to
drive off,” he said.

The defendant was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £32 victim surcharge.