AN ISLE of Wight woman involved in a minor collision in her Volkswagen Polo, drove with more than five times the legal limit of cocaine in her bloodstream, a court was told.

Toni Antwiss, of Prospect Road, Newport, admitted drug driving on Carisbrooke Road, Newport, on March 22.

At 2.45pm on that day, Antwiss came to traffic lights at the junction of Trafalgar Road, where police were dealing with a separate incident.

Officers saw Antwiss collide with the vehicle in front — a low speed collision, with no injuries caused to anyone involved, including her passenger.

Although she tested negative for alcohol in a roadside test, she failed a drug swab for cocaine and was subsequently arrested, said Lauren Stone, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

At Newport Police Station, Antwiss provided a reading of 268ug/L for cocaine metabolite, Benzoylecgonine (BZE). The legal limit is 50ug/L.  

There were also low readings of diazepam, cannabis and alcohol in her blood.

For Antwiss, 35, Barry Arnett said his client had "a momentary lapse of attention".

Mr Arnett said to the bench: "We've all heard of 'rubbernecking'. What happened was she momentarily looked at a police car, followed literally by a very slow impact with the vehicle in front.

"The police weren't concerned with that. She moved her car, got out, was fully co-operative, gave samples, went to the police station, there was no high level of impairment — despite the high cocaine reading — and she was processed within the hour.

"There was no damage to the other vehicle."

Mr Arnett added Antwiss had "horrendous difficulties", with a bereavement and major illnesses within the family, so used cocaine to cope with stress.

"It's hit her hard. She's tried to deal with day-to-day life and was occasionally tempted to use illicit substances.

"She took cocaine the day before. It's not comparable to drink-driving. If you were drink-driving while five times the limit, I'd be waving the white flag. She's totally ashamed."

Magistrates banned Antwiss from driving for a year and fined her £120, with £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.