A South Tyneside man discovered himself over the drug drive restrict – because of inhaling a relative’s hashish fumes day after day, a court docket heard.
Shaun Eglintine, 39, of Stirling Avenue, Scotch Estate, Jarrow, had not smoked the illicit drug in over a yr, his solicitor claimed.
But he inadvertently inhaled exhaled smoke from the substance almost each day whereas visiting his person member of the family.
His consumption was sufficient to check optimistic for hashish by-product THC after he was pulled over by police who suspected him of utilizing a cell phone on the wheel of his Audi.
A blood take a look at taken after his arrest on Wednesday, March 15, confirmed a degree of the drug at 5.3mcg. The authorized restrict is 2mcg.
Eglintine is beginning a 12-month roads’ ban after pleading responsible to drug driving at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor Paul Anderson stated: “He was pulled over by police who thought that he was using a mobile phone.
“He looked to be under the influence of drugs and a roadside swipe test was positive. He was over the limit.
“It showed the prior use of cannabis, whether actively or passively.
“He’s been around people who are habitual users. He’s perhaps inadvertently taken cannabis into his system, and it stays in the system for some time.”
John Williams, defending, stated: “It’s a very unusual case. He visits each day a close relative who uses a wheelchair and also smokes cannabis.
“It’s in every room in the house. He last smoked cannabis a year ago. By going to this house, he’s got the drug in his system.
“This is passive inhalation of cannabis, not from deliberately smoking it.”
Magistrates additionally fined Eglintine £120, with £85 court docket prices and a £48 sufferer surcharge.
