Drug-driver convicted after getting caught with heroin in Brighton
He was found with ten sperate substances in his body
A drug-driver who was found to be in possession of heroin in Brighton has been disqualified from driving.
Police stopped Scott Taylor after his van was seen slowly rolling through a red light and stalling in Ditchling Road on January 20.
The 57-year-old, of Whitehawk Road, tested positive for ten separate substances in his body and officers found heroin and needles inside the vehicle.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court, Taylor admitted driving while unfit through drugs, and possession of a Class A drug.
The court was told he was ‘vacant and spaced out’ once he stepped out of the van and was ordered to complete treatment for drug dependency for six months, with five rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) sessions, £114 victim surcharge and £85 costs, and disqualified from driving for one year.
This was after he was already under investigation for driving offences in October 2022, where Taylor had been stopped on Dyke Road, Hove, following two separate 999 calls about his driving on the A23 near Hicksetead.
He was further convicted, and given a two-year disqualification from driving, 15 RAR sessions, an £80 fine, £95 surcharge and £85 costs.
Speaking after both cases PC Steve Lambeth from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Drug-driving is one of the main causes of why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.
"Taylor is someone who was caught driving just two months after a previous arrest for drug-driving.
“The cocktail of drugs in his system means he was in no fit state to drive and could have caused serious harm to himself and other road users.
“We are pleased that a potentially dangerous driver has been disqualified and I’d like to thank the members of the public who reported their concerns about Taylor’s driving to us.
"It shows our determination to catch offenders and take drug-drivers off our roads.”