A mum caught drug-driving on a motorway claimed she smoked cannabis for her PTSD. Abigail Lloyd, 34, tested more than three times the limit for cannabis after the registration number of her Mini Cooper was flagged to police in an unmarked car, a court heard.
Magistrates in Tameside said an officer then smelt the drug coming from her car after she was ordered to stop on the hard shoulder of the M60, near junction two for Stockport, in June last year.
When quizzed mum-of-one Lloyd said she smoked cannabis to help her deal with her post traumatic stress disorder. She said she had smoked the drug the night before, but did not realise it remained in her system.
Lloyd admitted drug-driving and was fined £80 with £117 in costs and surcharges.
The court heard she had a previous conviction from 2023 under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 after she failed to disclose the PIN code to her Apple iPhone 12 to police investigating undisclosed offences.
Shazia Aslam, prosecuting, said: “On June 3, PC Garner was on duty in an unmarked police vehicle. Around 10.30am, the officer was driving on the M60 motorway towards junction two. The officer’s attention was drawn to the defendant’s vehicle, that being a Mini. A police check was carried out and the officer could smell cannabis coming from the vehicle.
Pictured outside court
(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
“She was requested to stop on the hard shoulder. The officer requested a sample of saliva for a drug test, that proved to be positive.
“She was taken to Cheadle Heath police station where she provided a sample of blood. It was forensically analysed and found to contain tetrahydrocannabinol at a reading of 6.5, the legal limit being two.”
Representing herself in court, Lloyd said: “I suffer from PTSD. I was self-medicating at that time. I have since got help. It was helping me to sleep. I have monthly meetings with a counsellor.
“I had not smoked in the morning. I smoked it at night time. I was not aware how it was still in my system. I do apologise. I am aware of that. I use it purely to cope with my PTSD.
“It was because of my conviction my licence plate was flagged on the system, it was not because of the smell of cannabis.”
Lloyd was banned from driving for 12 months.