Police have praised a member of the public whose tip-off took a drug-driver off York’s roads.
Joshua Elliott Turpin was spotted staggering in the Asda car park at Layerthorpe at 8.08pm on January 22.
He then got into the driver’s seat of a grey Audi A3 before driving off aggressively towards Foss Island.
The concerned member of the public alerted the police immediately and gave precise information to help locate the vehicle.
Officers pulled the car over and arrested Turpin on Fulford Road at 8.15pm.
They found a quantity of cannabis in the car and he was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive through drugs.
Toxicology tests later confirmed he was over the limit for cannabis.
Pleaded guilty
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at York Magistrates’ Court on June 21. As well as being banned from driving, he was also fined £100.
PC John Armstrong, of the York City Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
I have nothing but praise for the member of the public who quickly spotted the danger signs and wasted no time in calling the police.
This ensured a very quick response to minimise the risk this drug-affected driver posed to other road users.
We encourage everyone to report such extremely irresponsible, foolish and criminal behaviour to the police without delay so we can take decisive action and keep our roads safe.
He said if there is a suspected drug or drink-driver on the roads, please do not hesitate to dial 999 for an emergency response.
Information can also be reported to the non-emergency number 101.
Anyone with information about such offending but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.