Mansfield man smoked cannabis before road traffic collision

Desmond Lohan was driving a Mitsubishi on Chapel Lane, Ravenshead, when he was involved in a ‘minor collision’ with another vehicle on October 31 last year.

Prosecutor Sanjay Jerath said a test revealed he had three mcgs of cannabis in one litre of blood, when the specified limit is two mcgs.

He said Lohan has no relevant driving convictions but does have five previous convictions for eight offences and last appeared in court in 2015.

Neil Taylor, mitigating, said Lohan entered a guilty plea on the first occasion.

"There was a minor road traffic collision when he allowed a car to turn which he maintains he wasn't responsible for," he said. "He is very close to the legal limit as it's possible to be."

He said the self-employed project manager has been a carer for his mother since the pandemic began.

"The consequences are quite extreme," said Mr Taylor. "He will have to employ a driver to get him around.

“He is not a heavy user – he was self-medicating for pain. He suffers from sciatica and is waiting for a second hip replacement. He smoked one cannabis cigarette.”

Lohan, 54, of Woodhouse Road, Mansfield, admitted driving with a controlled drug, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Thursday.

He was banned for 12 months. He was fined £461, and ordered to pay a £46 surcharge with £85 costs.

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