Drugged-up taxi driver risked schoolboy's life at speeds of up to 70mphAn unlicensed taxi driver drove a severely disabled and wheelchair-bound teenager to school while high on cocaine and cannabis, a court has heard.
Peter McKay, of West Bridgford, was followed by an off-duty police officer who saw him hit kerbs and swerve into the path of oncoming traffic while carrying the 17-year-old, who has cerebral palsy.
The 27-year-old, who represented himself at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court, said he felt "embarrassed" by what he had done and knew he was "lucky" that no-one was killed or seriously injured.
McKay claimed he did not realise his taxi licence had expired and believed the drugs, which he took the day before, would not be in his system.
Magistrate Wal Budzynski told him: "You put the lives of a wheelchair-bound, severely disabled teenage boy and his carer at serious risk of death or serious injury.
"And you are aware that you took this boy to a school where other children were arriving and put them at risk. That is something you should have taken into account before you got behind the wheel."
The incident took place before 9am on June 22 when the defendant was driving a minibus taxi down the A50 towards Derby Moor School.
Lynn Bickley, prosecuting, said: "An off-duty police officer was behind him and, as they both came to an HGV, the defendant swerved without warning into the second lane and broke suddenly.
"The officer overtook him and noticed he appeared to be falling asleep. He sounded his horn and the defendant lifted his head as though he was waking up."
Miss Bickley said the officer followed McKay for around 10 miles and at speeds up to 70mph. When they arrived at the school, the officer told him he had called the police.
A blood test taken by the police revealed McKay had cocaine in his system. McKay admitted taking cocaine and cannabis.
Defending himself, McKay said: "I took the drugs around 3pm the previous day. I did not realise they would still be effective in my system. I am embarrassed, I was lucky, the main thing is that no-one was hurt which I am thankful for."
Mr Budzynski handed McKay, who is no longer a taxi driver, an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and disqualified him from driving for 20 months.
He also ordered him to undertake 300 hours unpaid work and to pay £85 costs, an £80 victim surcharge and a £150 criminal courts charge.
The West Bridgford-based taxi firm did not return calls, and a spokesman for Rushcliffe Borough Council, which licences the firm, said tests for alcohol and drug use were the employer's responsibility.
Read more:
http://www.nottinghampost.com/Drugged-t ... z3p5zLY365
Login
Register
FAQ
