Man denies driving while unfit through drugs

A court’s heard a man drove through Douglas while three times the UK’s drug-drive limit when he was stopped near police headquarters.

Philip John Rankin of Royal Court in Onchan appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

The 32 year old denies driving while unfit through drugs, but admitted possessing cannabis on Glencrutchery Road on January 11.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the hearing officers spotted Rankin as he drove past them at Quarterbridge just after 11pm, and followed him to the St Ninian’s crossroads.

He’s said to have been driving at up to 50mph in a 30 zone and straying over the centre white line - when he was stopped his speech was slurred and officers discovered cannabis in his white Mitsubishi pickup truck.

Blood tests later showed he was three times over the UK’s limit for cannabis, although the Isle of Man doesn’t have legal drug limits.

He told officers he smoked the drug every day and spent up to £200 a week on cannabis, and had decided to drive to Ballacraine that evening before returning to Douglas.

Magistrates bailed him in the sum of £500 and he’s next due to appear in court on September 16.