Drug-driver blames wine smell in car on ‘cooking beef bourguignon’ | UK | News
A driver who drove “erratically” and had cocaine in his blood has been banned from the roads. Victoria Chesworth was driving her Toyota Yaris between lanes on London Road in Stoke on July 18 when she was stopped by police who could smell alcohol. Chesworth blamed the smell of alcohol on “cooking beef bourguignon”, a court heard.
Since he could not be tested for a breathalyzer, he was taken to the police station, where a drug test was performed and it was determined that he was over the limit.
North Staffordshire Justice Center heard the 46-year-old man had 45µg/L of cocaine in his blood, well above the legal limit of 10µg/L. Chesworth’s blood also contained a staggering 800b ug/L of benzoylecgonine, the breakdown product of cocaine, which is 16 times the legal limit.
In court, Chesworth claimed officers smelled wine on him because he was making a beef bourguignon dish. Stoke-on-TrentLive.
Prosecutor Sherrie Henry said: “This incident occurred shortly after 11pm. Officers saw the defendant’s red Toyota Yaris driving erratically along the A52. He could be seen repeatedly switching between lanes. Officers pulled the defendant over and smelled alcohol. They attempted to perform a breathalyzer test. They were unable to get him to successfully complete the test. A small amount of gunpowder was found in the back of the defendant’s car. He was taken back to the police station where he was tested for drugs.”
Chesworth, of Blurton, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug use. Chesworth, who represented himself, appealed to the judges for tolerance and said the temporary driving ban left him “in a difficult financial and transportation situation.”
Through tears, she told the court: “I don’t agree with weaving in and out of lanes because I was following the one-way system. I thought the van behind me was getting too close. I didn’t realize it was the police. I found out later after they pulled me over. “They could smell the wine as I had made beef bourguignon earlier that evening.
“I had a hard time taking the breath test because I had a stroke last year. I agreed to take a blood test. The white powder they found in the car is a medication I take to manage my stroke symptoms.”
Magistrates handed Chesworth a 12-month community order sentence, which includes a 17-month driving ban and 20 rehabilitation days. He must also pay £239 costs.
