A MOTORIST who was under the influence of ketamine on a garage forecourt has since resigned from his job at Sellafield after failing a drugs test.

Morgan Heslop, 26, was seen on CCTV pulling onto the forecourt of the Pelican Garage in Whitehaven on March 22.

Heslop was moving the VW Polo in the way of members of the public. He got out of the vehicle and was ‘extremely unsteady’ on his feet, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said police were contacted due to the defendant’s demeanour. He was spoken to by officers, who noticed his eyes were ‘all over the place’. He was ‘staggering’ and ‘appeared confused’.

Officers found a snap bag of white powder in the cup holder of the car. Ketamine was later found in a blood sample taken from the defendant. The drug had not shown on a roadside drugs wipe, which only test for cocaine or cannabis.

Heslop had 745mcg of ketamine per litre of blood. The specified limit is 20mcg.

In police interview, Heslop said he had been at the Spar garage and the next thing he knew, police had arrived to drugs test him. He denied being under the influence. He said he was on anti-depressants and the drugs made him drowsy.

When asked why he was struggling to park the vehicle, Heslop said, ‘I think I parked alright’. He denied taking drugs.

John Cooper, defending, said: “After this incident, he decided there was an issue with drugs. He’s taken himself to Barrow and checked into The Well. He was there for some time.”

A probation officer told the court that Heslop had been struggling with addiction since his mum passed away. He was using ketamine and had just purchased some when he was stopped by police.

His only recollection was waking up in the back of a police van. He was ‘thankful’ an accident hadn’t occurred and said the incident had affected him so much that he referred himself to Recovery Steps.

Heslop had been employed at Sellafield since leaving school but had resigned before he was sacked for failing a drugs test, the court was told.

He had since found a job opportunity in Barry, Wales, and plans to move there to work as a labourer. The court heard he had been clean from drink and drugs for 14 weeks.

Heslop ‘hadn’t realised’ how bad his addiction was until the offence. He was ‘in a dark place’ and has since been put on medication by his GP.

The defendant, of Mirehouse Road, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle with a proportion of specified controlled drug above the limit.

Magistrates banned Heslop from driving for 24 months and fined him £120. He must also pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.