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A 34-year-old grandmother has been prohibited from driving for three years after she was caught under the influence of cannabis on her way to pick up her daughter from school.
Samantha Eaton, residing in the Bebington area of the Wirral, Merseyside, was intercepted while driving her Citroen Xsara when a routine police inspection found her to be one-and-a-half times above the legal limit for cannabis.
Examinations indicated that Eaton, a former caregiver and mother of two, had 2.7mg of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive substance in cannabis responsible for its effects – per litre of her blood.
In an attempt to challenge the findings, her father financed a private blood test, but it also confirmed she was above the legal threshold of 2mg.
Further investigation by officers disclosed that Eaton had prior convictions for drink-driving, which led to a 19-month driving ban in 2020, as well as charges for possession of Class A drugs, disorderly conduct under intoxication, and a car insurance related offense.
At Sefton Magistrates’ Court, she admitted to drug-driving and received a £160 fine, along with £264 in costs and surcharge, and the three-year driving suspension.
Prosecutor Lynne Sayers said: ‘On September 12 the defendant was on the way to pick her children up when she pulled over a routine stop. She co-operated with the officer and provide a positive reading for a drug saliva test.
‘She was taken to custody where she provided a blood sample and which was over the limit. There are no aggravating features in this case. There were no passengers and no accidents.’
Samantha Eaton (above) was stopped at the wheel and a routine police check revealed that she was one-and-a-half times over the legal limit of the Class B drug
Tests revealed that Eaton (above) had 2.7mg of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive component of cannabis which is responsible for the high – per litre of her blood
Her father then paid for a private blood test to contest the reading but this also came back to show that the then-33-year-old (above) was over the limit of 2mg
Eaton had previously been hounded from her home in 2023 following a petrol bomb attack carried out by gangsters locked in a dispute with the jailbird father of her two children.
Representing herself, Eaton said: ‘I have got two children and I have had to move out of the area for our own safety. I was petrol bombed and it was associated with who my ex-partner had trouble with.
‘I left him seven years ago but my family home was petrol bombed and I had to move out of the area. It was night and I was in the bedroom. They literally petrol bombed the front door. It was horrendous and traumatic.’
Explaining why she was using cannabis, Eaton said she had initially tried to use sleeping tablets after being kept awake at night but had suffered a bad experience so did not want to try them again.
She added: ‘I am a single parent and that is why I thought cannabis once per night would help me to sleep. I was picking up my daughter on that day. She attends a special needs school. I would never dream of picking the kids up if I knew I was over the limit. I had one the night before.’
Eaton (above) pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was fined £160, with £264 in costs and surcharge, as well as the three-year ban on the roads
The grandmother has previous convictions for drink-driving as well as possession of Class A drugs, being drunk and disorderly, and an offence related to car insurance
Eaton said she did not know that she would be over the limit and has since gone back to her doctors to be prescribed alternative medication.
She continued: ‘I know I have had a bad past but then I split with the kids’ father. I was trying to find my way. I know I am going to get a ban but it is really going to impact my life. We are 30 minutes drive from anywhere we know. Where we are we do not know anybody.
‘My dad knows the situation, that is why he offered to pay to questions the blood test. It came back “over”. It was “just over”. We thought I might possibly be over but my dad’s words were “No harm in trying”.
‘I think I am going to go back into care work. I was a carer in the community but I have really had it tough. I tried to do everything right by the kids and by myself.
‘I have a granddaughter who is one in a few weeks. They live in Rock Ferry. We are far away from everybody.’
Eaton said she did not know that she would be over the limit and has since gone back to her doctors to be prescribed alternative medication
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Boswell told her: ‘Cannabis is an illegal drug and can cause a lot of damage to your physical and mental health. It can land you in a criminal court with a conviction like this.
‘It can also impair your judgement and actions which endanger you and other road users. With this case, it was a routine stop. There was no suggestion that your driving was bad.
‘When police spoke to you the reason they asked for a sample was because you had a previous conviction for drugs. There is no suggestion there were any signs of impairment.
‘Nevertheless, it is an illegal drug. And if you take it that is the risk you run. I take into account you have been through an extremely traumatic incident shortly before that and have been suffering from panic attacks.
‘But I am sure you now realise that illegal drugs are not the answer to that.’
