A WOMAN caught behind the wheel with cannabis and cocaine in her bloodstream the day after the government enforced the national coronavirus lockdown, was banned from driving for a year.

Nicola Jane Bolton admitted drug driving in Greenlands Road, East Cowes, on March 24.

Bolton, 46, came to the attention of a police patrol when she was parked illegally near a crossing, then, as she drove towards them, she suddenly turned into a cul-de-sac, the court heard.

When stopped, she gave a positive drug swab for cannabis, followed by a positive blood test for cocaine at Newport Police Station, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Bolton's cannabis reading was 4.6 units (the legal limit being 2) and cocaine 186 (legal limit 50).

Bolton, of St Wilfred Drive, East Cowes, had, as a result of the offences, also breached an 18-month conditional discharge for shoplifting in February.

There was no suggestion Bolton's driving was at fault, nor did she have any passengers, added Mrs Smout.

For Bolton, Oscar Vincent said his client needed to go shopping that day and that her cocaine reading may have shown as a derivative of the array of medication she takes for anxiety and other mental health conditions.

He added Bolton had smoked cannabis the day before to help calm her down after learning that lockdown had scuppered plans to be her heavily pregnant daughter's birthing partner —and to combat toothache.

"She had been in a long-term abusive relationship and coming out of it took its toll on her mental health," explained Mr Vincent.

"Her anxiety levels went through the roof and a friend gave her some cannabis to help her sleep. She is not a cocaine user.

"Losing her licence will have an impact on her. She has three dependent children."

Probation officer, Dawn Young, told the bench Bolton was mortified by what she did.

In addition to her disqualification, Bolton was fined £120, with £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.