Ulverston man drug-driving to hospital after nan suffers heart attack

Ryan Patterson had ‘drowned his sorrows’ the previous evening following the breakdown of his marriage, his solicitor Simon Farnsworth outlined.

Mr Farnsworth said his client had found himself in the company of people taking drugs on April 11 last year when he involved himself in the activity for the first time in his life.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre told South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court how the 30-year-old was stopped by police the following afternoon while driving on the A6 at Beetham.

“Officers believed the defendant may be under the influence of drugs due to his appearance,” Mr Dacre said.

“He was arrested and taken to Kendal police station. The lowest reading was not less than 400 ug/L of benzoylecgonine.”

Benzoylecgonine is the primary, inactive chemical compound created in the body when the liver breaks down cocaine.

The court heard Patterson, of Ullswater Close, Ulverston, had no previous convictions.

He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to driving with a proportion of a controlled drug above the specified limit.

“He is a married man who has a four-year-old child,” Mr Farnsworth explained in mitigation.

“That relationship broke down. He has been having ongoing difficulties and has sought the help of his GP.

“He was drowning his sorrows and did what he did. He had no intention of driving the following afternoon. However, his nan had a serious heart attack. He was driving to Lancaster Infirmary when he was randomly stopped.

“He holds down an apprenticeship at a very well-known company in the local area. This is going to have a detrimental impact on his position.

 “This was a one off. This is not someone who misuses drugs. He has brought shame on himself and his family.”

Magistrates fined Patterson £349 and disqualified him from driving for the mandatory minimum period of 12 months.

They also ordered him to pay £85 in court costs and a £140 victim surcharge.