Fine for man found asleep in damaged car with ecstasy

Friday 18 August 2023

A 37-year-old man who was found asleep "with his legs out the window" of his damaged car – and also had MDMA tablets on him – has been fined £500.

The Magistrate's Court heard that Richard Stephen Russell (37), who was also put on probation for six months, was currently living in a van and would be homeless if he was banned from the roads - so was spared a driving disqualification.

Advocate Katie Ridley, prosecuting, said CCTV footage showed Russell had driven his badly damaged, red Volkswagen Polo from Bath Street to Pier Road car park on the evening of 18 March.

States police officers later found him there. Advocate Ridley said: "A male was lying unconscious in the car with his legs out the window and his dog wandering around the car park.

"When he was searched they found three and a half tablets of ecstasy in the pocket of his jeans."

A photo of his car was shown in court. It was found to have worn or under-inflated tyres, faulty brakes, poor suspension and a faulty brake light, was leaking oil and had the rear bumper partly detached.

Russell has previous convictions for driving vehicles in a poor condition and possession of drugs.

Advocate Lucy Marks, defending, pointed out that the ecstasy tablets were for Russell’s personal use.

She said some of the damage to the car had been caused by a minor collision and said: "Mr Russell was aware of some but not all of the defects. He is a man of limited financial means and did not have the money to pay for the damage to be repaired.

"He had been using the car only sparingly. He had been invited to a party and decided to drive there."

She added: "Mr Russell has shown remorse and understanding. He has accepted full responsibility for his actions."

Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris agreed to impose of a probation order and a fine and allowed him to pay it at £100 per month.