Driving ban for drugged up Newport man who crashed scooter

Benjamin Alexander Thomas Charles, admitted three drug-driving offences, and driving without a licence and without insurance, on Elenors Grove, Binstead, on May 15.

When emergency services arrived at the accident scene, Charles was staggering in the road covered in blood. He had not worn a helmet and his scooter was in a ditch, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, on Tuesday.

Paramedics were concerned Charles, of Crocker Street, Newport, may have suffered a broken neck.

Charles told an officer he could not remember what happened.

A spoon, silver foil, and a bag containing a suspected class A drug were found in his pocket.

Charles drove around a right-hand bend at high speed and clipped the kerb — propelling him into a metal 'crash' post.

A blood test for drugs was carried out at St Mary's Hospital, Newport.

The test revealed Charles had taken a cocktail of drugs — 384ug/l benzoylecgonine, more than seven times the legal drug-drive limit (50ug/l), Clonazepam 220ug/l, four times the limit (50ug/l), and cocaine 14ug/l (10ug/l).

Following an examination, his injuries were not as serious as first thought, but was told such a crash would have killed 99 per cent of people.

Charles, 31, has several driving with excess alcohol convictions to his name since 2015, said Miss Miller.

For Charles, Barry Arnett said his client was at rock bottom, with drug addictions, and had made a concerted effort to kill himself by deliberately riding his scooter into what he thought was a tree.

"He got onto the scooter, didn't bother to wear a helmet and rode as fast as he could into what he believed was a tree," said Mr Arnett.

"Apparently, he was seen staggering up the road with his head twice the size it should be."

Mr Arnett said he had since addressed his drugs and anger issues, is now positive about his future and has no desire to go back to his old ways.

Charles was ordered to pay a £160 fine and a £34 victim surcharge.