Parcel delivery driver was seen swerving towards oncoming traffic and vomiting near Burwell before failing drug test

A delivery driver was seen swerving towards oncoming traffic and vomiting on the roadside before failing a drug-driving test.

Andrew Mia appeared in court where he admitted taking cocaine at a party two days before police pulled over his Vauxhall Movano van on February 2.

The 40-year-old was handed a 16-month driving ban when he appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (May 14).

“A member of the public contacted police having seen a vehicle swerving on the road,” prosecutor Kerry Close said.

“The driver then pulled up and vomited on the side of the road.

“A police officer spotted the vehicle and followed it. It continued to swerve and, on two occasions, crossed the centre white line onto oncoming traffic.”

Mia, who was working as a parcel delivery but will lose his job due to his conviction, pleaded guilty to having 240 micrograms of the drug per 100ml of blood in his system after being stopped at Burwell, heading towards Louth. The legal limit is 50mcg.

It was not stated whether he was driving for work at the time of the offence.

Defending Mia, Beris Brickles said: “He had been at a party two days previously and accepts cocaine was taken. It was still in his system.

“He didn’t believe he was swerving but accepts he had to avoid roadwork barriers.”

Mr Brickles added a ‘positive light’ had emerged from the incident.

While being tested for drugs at the police station Mia, of Sidlaw Road, Billingham, Stockton on Tees, was dealt with by a healthcare professional who suggested he see a GP and the defendant has since been diagnosed with diabetes.

“I suspect his use of cocaine wasn’t helping his diabetes,” Judge Daniel Church injected.

“You were a risk to yourself and others,” the Judge continued.

“You had clearly taken a lot of cocaine for its still to be in your system two days later.”

Mia was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.