Saxilby driver mistakenly pulled over by police ordered to pay £645 for cocaine possession

A driver who was mistakenly pulled over by police was found to be in possession of cocaine.

Construction worker Jonathan Charlton was driving a black Land Rover on the A157 at Wragby on December 16, 2023, with two sachets of the class A drug in his possession.

After being stopped by officers the 42-year-old voluntarily told them where to find the cocaine.

“It was just after 2pm when police stopped Mr Charlton and searched his vehicle,” prosecutor Shelley Wilson told Boston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (June 26).

“They found a plastic container with two sachets of cocaine.

“He was arrested and, in interview, was full co-operative and fully admitted it was for his personal use.”

In mitigation, Beris Brickles explained Charlton - who used the drug ‘particularly at musical events’ - was unfortunate to have been pulled over.

“His vehicle was stopped by police because a check suggested the vehicle was uninsured, ” he said.

“In fact, one of the digits searched against wasn’t a letter on the vehicle.

“Police were questioning him about insurance and asked him if there were any drugs in the vehicle. He said he had a couple of wraps.”

Magistrates gave Charlton, of Hawthorne Close, Saxilby, credit for his ‘open and transparent’ attitude.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £160 and £85 costs.

The £645 total is to be paid back at £200 per month.