Bonnybridge man 16 times over drug-drive limit with four-year-old in vehicle

Sean Waddelow “freely admitted” he was a provisional licence holder who didn’t have insurance when police pulled him over after detecting a strong smell of cannabis coming from his vehicle on November 17, 2019.

The 27-year-old, of 39 Spence Street, Bonnybridge, appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday having admitted driving in Main Street, Plean when the proportion of cocaine in his blood was greater than 130 microgrammes per litre of blood, exceeding the 10mcg per litre limit.

A drug test showed the proportion of Benzoylecgonine – a compound tested for in most cocaine urinalyses – in his blood was greater than 800mcg. The legal limit is 50mcg per litre of blood.

It also revealed Waddelow had 100mcg of cannabis in his system – ten times the legal limit per litre of blood.

Procurator fiscal depute Kristina Kelly said: “At 6.30pm police officers were on mobile patrol at the locus and smelled a strong smell of cannabis from the accused’s vehicle.

“A four-year-old child was in the passenger seat and was asleep. The accused freely admitted to police he only had a provisional licence and had no insurance.

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“Officers then requested a preliminary breath test which provided zero for alcohol.

“He was taken to Falkirk Police Station. A drug test indicated he was positive for cannabis and cocaine.”

Defence solicitor Dick Sandeman told Sheriff Derek Livingston his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at Stirling Sheriff Court and had been given an interim disqualification.

The solicitor added: “This was tablets of cocaine rather than active cocaine but it was still in his blood system.

“He was at that point smoking cannabis in the car.”

Sheriff Derek Livingston said: “The charges are quite serious.

“There’s presumably some element of passive smoking for the four-year-old.

“Your client undoubtedly would’ve been looking at prison were it not for the fact he doesn’t have a record.

“Anyone who was 16 times the drink-drive limit would be dead.”

Sheriff Livingston endorsed Waddelow’s licence and disqualified him from driving for two years.

He was also made subject to a four-month, 7pm-7am restriction of liberty order as an alternative to custody.

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