A 19-year-old Swindon man has been banned from driving just weeks before he is due to start a new job working for a celebrity chef in London.
William Richell, of Ecklington, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of blood after he was caught driving while in possession of cannabis in on Christmas Eve 2021.
Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard that police officers on patrol spotted a white Volkswagen Polo with a rear brake light out in Queen’s Drive.
They pulled the vehicle over to advise the driver of the issue, however, whilst talking to Richell the officers got a whiff of cannabis and a drugs search was carried out.
Prosecutor Natalie Cheeseman said a small quantity of cannabis was located in the vehicle, and the defendant failed a roadside drug swipe – testing positive for both cocaine and cannabis.
It was 2am on Christmas Day by the time Richell was checked into custody, where he admitted to smoking cannabis daily. He then refused to provide a sample of blood, claiming to have a needle phobia.
A healthcare professional at Gablecross Police Station investigated his claims by checking his medical records. But they found that he had previously had injections without any noted concerns.
Richard Williams, defending, said his client “doesn’t enjoy giving blood or needles”, but he accepts this “falls far short of a phobia, which is a defence”.
He said Richell is an “accomplished chef” and working for a “well-respected school in Marlborough”. Adding that he has secured a job with a celebrity chef in London and will be moving there soon.
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Mr Williams said the defendant has stopped using cannabis and had support from Turning Point.
Magistrates, who took into account his previous convictions for violent offences and drug possession and the fact his is about to “start a job which will make you somebody in society”, fined him £461 and disqualified him from driving for 16 months.
Wishing him well in his new job, the chair of the bench said: “Good luck… you’ve definitely got an opportunity to succeed in life, we hope we never see you again in the nicest possible way.”
He must also pay £85 costs and a £46 victim surcharge.
