Dover cannabis smoker banned from the road after admitting drug-driving
12:30, 20 February 2023
updated: 12:30, 20 February 2023
A driver who smoked cannabis the night before getting behind the wheel has been banned from the road.
Kevin Rennie was driving a Suzuki Vitara when he was pulled over by police in Dover after taking an unusual route through the town centre.
He was asked to provide a saliva sample at the roadside, which came back positive. He was then arrested and taken to a police station to give a blood sample.
The 44-year-old was found to be over the limit for THC, a component in cannabis and gave a reading of 7 microgrammes per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2.
Rennie was charged with drug-driving and admitted the offence when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court last month.
Dylan Bradshaw prosecuting told the court, Rennie, of Dour Street, Dover, was pulled over in The Paddock in the town at about 11am on October 31, last year.
Mr Bradshaw added: "He has bit of a record, but they are dissimilar matters and he has not been before the courts for well over a decade."
District Judge Justin Barron also heard Rennie had smoked cannabis the night before he drove.
Defending himself, he said: "There was nothing wrong with my driving. I was not smoking cannabis then, it was the night before.
"I admit my mistake I will not smoke no more and I was only 50 metres from my home."
Judge Barron said there was nothing to indicate bad driving by Rennie, but told him he would be losing his licence.
He banned Rennie from the road for 12 months, fined him £120 and order he pay a victim surcharge of £48 and £85 costs.
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