Man appears in court charged with drug driving and dragging a police officer along a road

A man’s appeared in court charged with driving his car under the influence of cocaine and dragging a police officer who tried to stop him along a road.

Steven Wesley Johnston of Tynwald Road in Douglas appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas Courthouse.

He denies dangerous driving and possessing cannabis on September 14 last year, but admits driving over the drug limit on the same date.

He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of cannabis, cocaine and a cocaine derivative on September 16.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the hearing on the first occasion Johnston is said to have reversed his car along Lord Street as a plain-clothes police officer tried to stop him.

The officer was dragged along the road, but wasn’t injured – a drug test later showed Johnston was 18 times the limit for the cocaine-related chemical.

Mrs Hughes said the case should be heard by the Court of General Gaol Delivery.

Johnston was bailed in the sum of £500 with a condition he doesn’t drive, and he’ll appear again on February 28.