Sudbury – Drug driver sentenced

A 33-year-old woman has been banned from driving after being convicted of driving under the influence of drugs in Sudbury.

Rosie Gardiner, of no fixed abode, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 29 January, where she pleaded guilty to the charge of drug driving.

She was disqualified from driving for 40 months and fined £40.

This sentence relates to an incident on 21 August 2024, when officers on patrol had cause to stop a red Ford Fiesta on Aubrey Drive.

The driver, Gardiner, failed a roadside drugs test and was arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where an evidential sample of blood was taken.

When the results of the blood test came back, it showed Gardiner had three different drugs in her system:

• Benzoylecgonine (the major metabolite of cocaine), at a level of 800 microgrammes per litre of blood, more than 16 times the legal limit of 50mg per litre
• three times the legal limit of cocaine
• cannabis, which was below the legal limit

Sergeant Oliver Williams from Sudbury Police Station said: “There is absolutely no excuse to drive with drugs in your system, let alone three drugs. Gardiner showed complete disregard for the safety of other road users, as well as her own.

“Drink or drug driving is one of the main causes of serious and fatal collision on our roads, and those who commit these offences risk punishment which include being disqualified from driving, fines and even the risk of going to prison.

“We are determined to do everything we can to catch offenders and take robust action to help keep our roads safe.”