A Polish man has been been disqualified from driving after being convicted of drug driving shortly after his arrival in the UK.
Bartlomiej Sniec, 26, of Hill Street, Haverfordwest, admitted one charge of driving when the concentration of a specified drug - namely the cannabis component delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - was above the specified limit - namely 2 microgrammes per litre of blood - when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on Monday, 13th July 2020.
This is an offence contrary to section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It has a maximum penalty of 6 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that police officers were on routine patrol in the town when they observed a Renault Clio, driven by Sniec, clipping the kerb of a roundabout at around 7 pm on Thursday, 30th January 2020. This gave the police cause to stop Sniec's vehicle to discuss the manner of his driving.
"Police officers spoke to him and could smell cannabis coming from this gentleman's clothes and from the car. He appeared to be nervous and had blood-shot eyes", Mr Pritchard-Jones said.
A roadside drugs-swipe was positive for cannabis.
The prosecutor added: "It is an aggravating factor that the drug did have an adverse effect on his driving, otherwise he would not have hit the kerb."
Speaking through an interpreter, Sniec, who was unrepresented, said: "Yes, I was under the influence of cannabis. But, I want to make you aware that I am a newcomer to UK driving, and that was my first week of driving on the UK side."
The farmworker apologised to the court for his actions.
Sniec was fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £32 victim surcharge.
He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
As a point of interest, had Sniec been convicted of the same offence back in Poland, he would have faced a maximum sentence of two years in custody.
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