Drug-driver in Eastbourne was ‘off the chart’ for cocaine

A driver took so much cocaine that his blood sample was beyond the range a laboratory machine could test for.

Anthony Tutt was seen driving in his Audi A3 at Friston by officers, and drove away at excess speed.

Officers from the Roads Policing Unit saw the vehicle again minutes later in Eastbourne, and again saw it drive away at high-speed.

But they traced the vehicle to 23-year-old Tutt’s home address, and arrested him on the driveway.

Tutt admitted he was the driver, then claimed he had taken a “big fat line” of cocaine only after exiting the vehicle.

But he later told officers he was taking a large amount of the class A drug every day.

Drug-driving and excess speed are two of the “fatal five” factors that lead to people being killed or seriously injured (KSI) on our roads.

Tutt, unemployed, of Kings Drive, Eastbourne, was charged with drug-driving and driving without due care and attention.

He appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on July 25 where he admitted the charges.

His case is being shared to coincide with Sussex Police’s annual summer crackdown on drink and drug drivers running throughout August.

In court it was revealed that Tutt was tracked down by officers at his home address on August 29 last year by officers from the Roads Policing Unit.

He completed a DrugWipe test which indicated he was positive, so he was arrested and taken to custody.

Later, he gave a sample which was positive for 183 microgrammes (mcg) of cocaine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 10mcg of cocaine per litre of blood.

Meanwhile, the chemical breakdown of cocaine, called benzoylecgonine, was tested in Tutt’s sample. The legal limit for this element is 50mcg per litre of blood.

When Tutt’s sample was tested, it was more than 800mcg per litre of his blood.

PC Michael Dunn, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “The cocaine levels in Tutt’s samples were found to be off the chart and above the limit that the machine could test for.

“He admitted driving the Audi but said he was not aware of his high-speed, and claimed he had only taken a ‘big fat line’ of cocaine after exiting the vehicle.

“But he also said that because of a relationship break-up he had been taking large amounts of the class A drug every day for two weeks.

“Drugs such as cocaine and cannabis can remain in the body for a long time after being taken, and continue to impact on a reactions and ability to drive.

“Drivers who have taken these drugs are putting other road users at risk.”

The court ordered Tutt to complete 200 hours of unpaid work as part of a six-month suspended prison sentence.

He must also complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions (RAR), and pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

The court disqualified Tutt from driving for three years, and ordered him to complete an extended retest before he is allowed to get his licence back.

PC Dunn added: “This case shows how drugs stay in your system for a long time. It is not acceptable to take drugs and then get behind the wheel.

“We are determined to catch offenders, and we are pleased that another motorist who posed a danger to the public has been taken off our roads.”