Cocaine-using New Whittington man banned from driving following car crash

Lee Hughes, 41, claimed the crash was caused by a car pulling out of a side road - making him swerve and collide with another vehicle during the incident on January 7 last year.

Following the crash in Disley, Cheshire, Hughes - driving to work in Bolton from Chesterfield at the time - tested positive for cocaine.

Becky Allsop, prosecuting, told Chesterfield Magistrates Court how when police arrived at the scene Hughes appeared “calm” while his speech was “slow” - which made them suspicious.

Hughes’ solicitor Steve Brint told the court the defendant had stopped at the scene following the smash and was “orchestrating traffic” around the damaged cars on the A6.

Mr Brint added: “He was one of the people who rang police indicating that there had been a road traffic accident.”

The solicitor said former cocaine and heroin addict Hughes fully accepted he had taken the drug however he claimed “it was at least 24 hours before this incident and was still in his system.”

Mr Brint said: “He is now on a script and has sought help for his cocaine and heroin addiction.”

Probation officer Hannah Buckley told the court Hughes had taken cocaine with work colleagues two days before and had “conceded that drugs can incur risk-taking behaviour”.

Ms Buckley told how Hughes - who had a previous conviction for robbery - suffered with anxiety and “hears voices”.

Sentencing Hughes, a magistrate told him: “Do I need to lecture you about how you could have killed someone? The risk is simply death to an adult or a young child.

“That’s why the penalties are so high.”

Hughes, of Devonshire Avenue North, admitted drug driving and was banned from driving for two years and given a six-month community order.

He was also made subject to a six-week curfew between 7pm to 7pm and made to pay £310 court costs and a £90 victim surcharge.

The 41-year-old was also ordered to undertake six days of activities as part of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.