Boston man caught driving ‘erratically’ with ketamine in his system banned from roads for more than four years - and could face jail

A man caught driving ‘erratically’ with ketamine in his system could face jail.

Joshua Nelson, 26, admitted driving with the drug in his system after being stopped by police on Station Street, Sibsey, on November 4 - and has been banned from the roads for more than four years.

However, the guilty plea leaves Nelson, of Lincoln Lane, Boston, in breach of a suspended prison sentence, imposed by Croydon Crown Court in December 2023 following a charge of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

“It was 11.30pm and the defendant was driving a black BMW on the Gride at Old Leake,“ prosecutor Lottie Tyler told Boston magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (March 12).

“He was swerving on the road and increasing and decreasing his speed. His driving was generally erratic.”

Nelson gave a reading of 96 micrograms of ketamine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 20mcg.

Defending Nelson, Rebecca Freitas said her client - who receives universal credit - suffered from mental health issues and had been sober since 2021, but relapsed after some bad news.

She added his suspended sentence had a ‘couple of months left’ to run and he had been ‘dealing well’ with the probation service.

Magistrates were impressed by Nelson’s ‘glowing’ report from the probation service but, due to a previous driving ban, disqualified him for 52 months.

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

Croydon Crown Court will decide how to deal with the breach after being notified by the court.