The tragic death of a friend led an Isle of Wight man to drive while more than four times the legal limit for a derivative of cocaine, a court has heard.
Appearing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Friday, July 19, Keanu Banks, of Union Street, Ryde, admitted one count of drug driving.
At 2.15am on February 4 this year, two police officers were travelling on Sandown Road, Lake when they saw a white Peugeot car.
They stopped the vehicle in Flitcroft Gardens and a male, Banks, got out looking 'pale' and his eyes 'glazed', court heard.
He informed the officers he had had a line of cocaine and that he smoked cannabis about four hours before, Liz Miller, prosecuting, said.
A drugs swipe came back positive for cocaine and he was taken to Newport Police Station.
While there, blood samples were taken and Banks was found to have 216mg/l of cocaine derivative BZE in his blood, when the legal limit is 50. Traces of cannabis were also found.
Defending, Jim Osborne, said Banks was a prolific user of cocaine and cannabis at the time. Just days before the offence, Banks's friend had taken his own life and he was travelling to his other friend's house to comfort him.
The officers who stopped Banks were the same ones who attended the scene of his friend's death, court heard.
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Mr Osborne said Banks had told him he had been completely clean for two months.
He deeply regrets what he did, has sold his car and he has taken steps to address the problems he had, Mr Osborne said.
Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report, adjourning the case to September 27.
Banks was granted unconditional bail.
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