Derbyshire biker sentenced after taking cocaine and ‘swerving’ on busy road near Chesterfield
The defendant said the bike was his ‘pride and joy’ and he ‘wouldn’t do anything’ to jeopardise it.
A Derbyshire biker who was seen ‘swerving’ after taking cocaine has been sentenced.
Simon Pashley, 52, of Fern Avenue, Staveley, appeared in Chesterfield Magistrates Court after an incident involving drug driving.
The incident took place shortly after 10am on May 16 at Derby Road in Wingerworth when police officers saw a Honda motorbike overtaking other vehicles and swerving on the road.
The driver of the vehicle, Pashley, was ‘constantly looking over at the police vehicle’, the court heard.
Officers stopped Pashley, who admitted he had a few drinks the night before, and roadside drug and alcohol tests were carried out.
The tests revealed he did not have any alcohol in his system, but he tested positive for two drugs, indicating cocaine.
Pashley was charged with drug driving and pleaded guilty.
Defence said that he had a ‘few drinks’ the night before and ‘was offered cocaine but didn’t take it’.
The defendant said the drug ‘must have been put in his drink’ by someone.
The court heard that the motorbike was Pashley’s ‘pride and joy’ and he waited 20 years until his children left home to get it and ‘wouldn’t do anything’ to jeopardise it.
During sentencing, District Judge Taaffe highlighted that Pashley was riding his motorbike with drugs in his system and there was evidence of bad driving during the incident.
Commenting on Pashley's defence, he added: “That might well be true but blood tests don’t lie.”
Pashley was ordered to pay fines of £400, victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £85.
He has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.