Six drugs found in driver's blood

David Campbell, who was seen in the driving seat of the car which had crashed, was then found to have a cocktail of six drugs in his body.

Campbell, 52, of Claremont Court, North Shore, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs, without insurance or a licence.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said police received a report of an incident in the car park at the rear of the Gynn Hotel, Dickson Road, North Shore, on December 1 at 12.50am.

A Vauxhall Astra was stuck on a grass verge.

Campbell was in the driving seat and another man was near the bonnet appearing to be trying to get it started.

Both men tried to walk off and seemed to be under the influence of something, the prosecutor told the court.

A check for alcohol was negative, but a blood test revealed morphine, probably from illicit heroin, methadone, cannabis, amphetamine, diazepam and tramadol in Campbell’s body.

When interviewed, Campbell said he had been kidnapped by a man who made him drive the car, but he could not drive and the car crashed onto the verge a couple of yards away.

Peter Cave, defending, told magistrates: “This seems to be a somewhat bizarre and unusual case.

“He says he was threatened and pressurised to drive the car away.”

Campbell was presently on a court-ordered drug rehabilitation course and received the heroin substitute methadone on prescription.

Campbell was banned from the road for 12 months, fined £120 with £50 costs and ordered to pay £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.