A teenager who police thought was driving under the influence of cannabis has had his case withdrawn at Douglas magistrates’ court.
John William Arwyn Kaighin, of Kerrocruin, Kirk Michael, was driving a black Audi when he was stopped by police in Royal Avenue in Onchan on January 7.
Noting a pungent aroma of cannabis wafting out of the car, the youth’s bloodshot eyes and his apparently drowsy demeanour, they asked him if he had taken cannabis, which he admitted doing three to four hours earlier.
For the prosecution, Barry Swain said the 19-year-old was examined later at the police station by a doctor.
‘As part of the procedure it is doctor’s duty to give an opinion about whether the driver would be impaired, but no statement to that effect was provided at the time,’ he said.
‘He simply says that at the time, the subject had a condition that may have been induced by a drug.’
He said analysis of a blood sample indicated the presence of cannabis but the forensic scientist was unable to give evidence about the possible impairment to a driver, beyond simply saying it ‘can’ impair the ability to drive.
A further statement from the doctor said he detected ‘no significant abnormality’.
‘I can’t proceed on that basis,’ Mr Swain said.
Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said there had been no evidence offered to indicate that his client’s driving had fallen below any reasonable standard.