A sheriff jailed a drug dealer who was found slumped behind the wheel at a set of traffic lights in Dundee.
James Drinnan, 32, was found to be almost nine times over the legal limit for crack cocaine when he was caught holding up traffic on Main Street.
The city’s sheriff court heard how Drinnan’s foot was rested on the brake while the car was stationary.
Paramedics managed to wake Drinnan, who was heavily under the influence of drugs, before his car began to roll backwards.
Officers discovered that he was carrying more than £1,000 worth of heroin, as well as a lock knife.
Unreactive at traffic lights
Prosecutor Gavin Burton said: “At 1.50pm the witness left work when she observed the Vauxhall Vectra car with the accused in the driver’s seat.
“His car was stationary and first in a queue at traffic lights.
“The lights turned green and he remained stationary.
“Other drivers sounded their horns but that failed to have any effect.
“The witness went past and saw he was still sat looking downwards and unaware or unresponsive to his surroundings.”
Mr Burton added: “She was concerned about his well-being and pulled in, before going back to check on his welfare.
“He was unconscious and unresponsive and the emergency services were contacted.
“Medics checked for a pulse and tried to rouse him using pain stimulus.
“He did come round and moved his foot off the brake and the car started to roll backwards.
“The medic pulled the handbrake on, turned the engine off and removed the keys from the ignition.
“They searched for identification and brown powder fell out of his pocket.”
‘In grip of addiction’
The court heard heroin had a maximum potential street value of £1,110, with the court hearing how the cocaine derivative in his system was 422 mics per litre, exceeding the limit of 50 mics per litre.
Drinnan, a prisoner of HMP Perth, pled guilty to driving under the influence of drink or drugs, supplying heroin and possessing a knife on June 8 last year.
Solicitor Jim Caird said Drinnan was in the grip of a drug addiction at the time of the incident and was under orders to deliver a package in return for crack cocaine.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael sentenced Drinnan to 21 months in prison.
How can there be a ‘legal limit’ for cocaine?
Although there is a zero tolerance policy on illegal drugs in Scotland, the legislation recognises the body can produce natural chemicals and compounds which can show on tests.
The same can be true of prescribed medication.
Therefore, there is an extremely low level of the metabolite of illegal drugs – benzoylecgonine in the case of cocaine – at which a test can be legally negative.
