Police had to pursue a Long Sutton drug-driver off-road and then give chase on foot when he and a passenger decamped.
When Josh Edward Lake (25) was caught, he failed a roadside drug wipe and a quantity of the drug Spice was in his uninsured car.
Prosecutor Stacie Cossey told King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Monday that police followed the Renault Kangoo along the A17 at Sutton Bridge after a check revealed it was not insured. They signalled for the driver to pull over but he didn’t.
“There was a short pursuit, including along a dirt track,” said Miss Cossey. “Two people, including the defendant, then got out and made off.”
Lake admitted to being a provisional licence holder and a search of the car turned up 3.2 grams of Spice. He was later found to have had six times the legal driving limit for a cannabis derivative in his system.
Lake, of Daniels Crescent, pleaded guilty to drug-driving, possession of a class B drug, failing to stop for police, having no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with his licence on July 3, 2018.
In mitigation, Tiffany Meredith said he had just bought the car in Walpole and was driving it home to do some work on it. She said he forgot the drug was in the car which was why he did not tell police about it.
“He had smoked a joint that morning,” Miss Meredith added. “He felt fine and didn’t feel his driving would be impaired. He did run – he panicked and ran. He knew he wasn’t going to get very far.”
For drug-driving, Lake was disqualified for 12 months. He was fined £50 each for four of the offences. There was no separate penalty for driving without a proper licence but his licence will be endorsed. He was told to pay £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.
