A drug-driver who committed his crime just hours before he was due to appear in court for another similar offence has been handed a suspended prison sentence and banned from the road for five years.
Repeat offender Craig Sinkinson, 35, was sentenced by a district judge on February 24 having been caught behind the wheel while over the limit for a cocaine breakdown product.
Sinkinson had been driving a Mercedes last October on the A686 close to Edenhall, near Penrith, when he was stopped by police.
After he admitted a drug-driving charge — he also had a previous similar matter on his criminal record — he was handed a fine along with a three-year driving ban and warned about his future conduct.
But just hours before that court hearing, on February 23, Sinkinson had committed another offence.
He was stopped by police while driving a Renault Clio on the M6 close to Junction 40 at Penrith when, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard, there were obvious signs of impairment.
It was found that Sinkinson, of Red Gables, Shap, had ketamine in his system over the legal driving limit.
He was brought back to court and admitted another drug-driving charge.
Magistrates imposed an eight-week jail term but suspended this for 12 months after concluding there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Sinkinson must complete rehabilitation work with the probation service and was also ordered to complete a 60-month driving ban.
