A transport firm boss has been banned from the road after he was caught driving with cocaine in his system.
Benjamin Alexander was pulled over in Perth during the first weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown after officers spotted him out with two passengers in his Ford Focus.
When police discovered bags of cocaine and ketamine in his car, Alexander told them it was “talcum powder.”
The 28-year-old, who runs his own off-road transportation company, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted driving on Crieff Road on April 3 2020, with a reading of 12 mics of cocaine per litre of blood.
The permitted driving limit is 10 mics.
Alexander, of Green Road, Balbeggie, also pled guilty to possessing cocaine.
Glazed eyes
Fiscal depute Rebecca Kynaston told the court: “Police were on mobile patrol at Crieff Road, near the junction with Perth College.
“At about 12.30pm, officers observed a vehicle with three young males.
“They indicated for the vehicle to stop and activated their blue lights in order to carry out a check on the number of passengers.
“This was because of coronavirus restrictions that were in place at the time.”
She said: “Officers spoke to the driver and noticed a strong smell of cannabis was coming from inside the vehicle.
“The accused appeared to be under the influence of some form of drink or drugs.
“His eyes were glazed and he was slurring his words.”
Ms Kynaston told the court: “The two passengers also appeared to be under the influence.
“The accused was searched and a snapbag containing white powder was recovered from his wallet.”
This was later confirmed as 5g of cocaine.
The court heard that officers also recovered a 82g bag of ketamine from a rucksack in the car. It did not belong to Alexander.
When asked what the drugs were, Alexander told police: “Talcum powder.”
He passed a roadside breath test but then tested positive for cocaine.
Sofa surfer
Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said: “This offence dates back to 2020.
“Mr Alexander was in a very different place at the time.
“There had been a complete breakdown in the relationship with his parents.
“He had been sofa surfing and he accepts that on some occasions he had taken cocaine.”
Ms Clark said: “Things have moved on for him.
“He is self-employed as an off-roader. He uses off-road vehicles to transport heavy goods.
“Mr Alexander is responsible for the hiring and firing of drivers, ironically perhaps.”
Sheriff William Wood told Alexander: “Driving with excess drugs in your system is just as toxic as driving with alcohol.
“It was a very silly thing to do, particularly because you had other people in the car.
“Your judgement must have been impaired at the time.”
Alexander was fined £990 and banned from driving for a year.
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