Driving ban for motorist who failed roadside drug wipe in Swindon

A woman who failed a drug wipe on the side of a road in Swindon after being stopped by police with a child in her car, has been handed a driving ban.

Officers were on patrol in Swindon in the early hours of Friday 3 June when they pulled over a black Audi A3 on Westfield Way.

Chelsey Rose, 26, of Rosebery Road, Bristol, was the driver of the vehicle and had two men and a ten-year-old boy as passengers.

Due to concerns about her slurred speech and dilated pupils, a roadside drugs wipe was conducted and came back positive for cannabis.

However, once back at the police station, Rose failed to provide a specimen of blood for drugs analysis.

Rose appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday - 20 July - and pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

She was disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined £150 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £34 surcharge.

PC Luke Hobbs, from Wiltshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Everybody knows the dangers of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, and the risk that these sorts of offenders pose to both themselves and other road users.

“What makes this even worse is that there was a child in the car at the time.

“Our message is clear – we are out patrolling the roads of Wiltshire 24/7, stopping vehicles where we have concerns about the manner of driving. Our job is to keep the roads safe, and when we find people who are deliberately putting others in danger then we will ensure you are put before the courts to face justice.”

A spokesperson for the Swindon force said: "If you know someone who regularly drives while under the influence, then please call 101 and give as much information as possible, including the driver’s details or description, their car registration and a time or day that they always do it."

Those that believe a crime is being committed and somebody is already behind the wheel, are being asked to call 999.