Drug-driver barely able to speak during arrest

A driver who had taken so many drugs he struggled to answer basic questions during his arrest has been sentenced.

Officers called to a car being driven erratically in Somerset on 22 August found Jack Brownless stopped at a nearby crossroads, unable to tell them when he had last had anything to eat or drink.

The 39-year-old had swerved across the A39 near Wells and hit a wall before concerned members of the public called police.

Brownless was handed a 26-week suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for five years at a hearing at Yeovil Magistrates' Court on Tuesday having pleaded guilty to drug-driving and possessing cannabis and ketamine.

Brownless, from Hazelbury Brian in Dorset, was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and made subject to a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Brownless was arrested after swerving his silver Mercedes B-Class across the A39 near Wells. He hit a wall and drove off when another driver tried to help him.

Police later found him stopped at the Green Ore Crossroads, just outside of Wells.

"We received several calls from concerned members of the public after Brownless was seen driving in an erratic manner on the A39, and when we spoke to him it was clear he was heavily under the influence of drink or drugs, was slurring, and seemed confused," said PC Sam Colebrook.

"He tested positive for cannabis at the roadside and within the vehicle, several small bags of ketamine and cannabis were found, and it's quite clear we are fortunate this incident did not end in serious injury, or worse.

"We want to remind people there is no safe way to drink and drug and drive, there is no excuse to take the risk, and we continue to urge the public to help us take dangerous drivers off the road before it's too late, as this case demonstrates."

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.