Hylton Castle woman banned from roads after drug driving conviction

A Hylton Castle woman has been banned from driving for three years after police caught her behind the wheel under the influence of drugs.

Paula Holmes, 47, was stopped by officers while driving her Renault Clio on Chester Road on January 28. She tested positive for drugs at the roadside and was later confirmed to have cocaine breakdown product BZE in her system at a level above the legal limit.

Holmes, of Cramlington Square, Hylton Castle, already had a previous conviction for drink driving from July 2015. As a result, her latest offence triggered an automatic three-year ban due to the ten-year rule on repeat driving offences.

South Tyneside Magistrates heard that while her driving showed no signs of impairment, the reading of 64mcg of BZE—above the 50mcg legal threshold—was sufficient for prosecution.

She was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.