Nicole Wheatley, a hairstylist, and mother of two disabled children, has been banned from driving after being found almost eight times the drug-driving limit due to cocaine use. The incident occurred when police were called to her ex-partner’s house, and a subsequent drug test revealed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, in her system.
During her court appearance, Wheatley expressed her frustration about the challenges of transporting her children to school, stating that she was at her “wit’s end.” She admitted to recreational cocaine use with friends earlier that weekend but claimed to be unaware that the drug was still detectable in her system.
Wheatley was found to have 390 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per liter of blood, significantly exceeding the legal limit of 50 milligrams. In response to the offense, Crewe magistrates imposed a 12-month driving ban and fined her £120 reported MailOnline.
Yvonne Dobson, the prosecutor, described Wheatley’s behavior during the incident, emphasizing her glazed eyes, dilated pupils, and defensive and emotional reactions. Despite her claims of unfair treatment, Wheatley provided a saliva sample that tested positive for cocaine, leading to her arrest.
In her defense, Wheatley’s lawyer, Lesley Herman, highlighted that many individuals unknowingly break the law by driving with residual drug by-products in their system after weekend drug use. Herman also stressed the impact of the driving ban on Wheatley’s ability to take her children to school and maintain her job at a local salon in Sandbach, given the absence of suitable alternative transportation.
Magistrate Neil Fowkes acknowledged Wheatley’s concerns but emphasized that the court had no discretion in imposing the driving ban, which is mandated by law. Fowkes sternly warned Wheatley against driving during the ban, as doing so could lead to imprisonment.
