Wrexham man arrested twice within hours on suspicion of drug driving overnight

A local man was arrested twice on suspicion of drug driving within the space of a few hours over the weekend.

The 42-year-old man from Penley in Wrexham was arrested shortly after 11:30pm last night (Sunday) after being initially stopped due to driving at excess speed.

Police say he failed the roadside drugs test after testing positive for cocaine and was taken into police custody. The man was later released under investigation pending the results of further tests. Despite being warned not to drive he was seen getting into his car and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving for a second time shortly before 02:30am this morning.

Officers now await the results of further tests before any charges are brought forward.

The arrest was one of several drink and drug driving related incidents dealt with across the region over the weekend.

North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit are once again issuing a warning to the motoring public that they will crack down on those caught driving whilst under the influence.

Sergeant Meurig Jones from the Force’s Roads Policing Unit said: “Despite our repeated warnings regarding the dangers of drink and drug driving, people are still choosing to risk their own lives and the lives of other road users by taking to the roads whilst under the influence.

“Throughout 2017 North Wales Police made 882 drink drive and 600 drug drive arrests and we will continue in our efforts to change driver behaviour in order to make our roads safer.

He added: “The man who was arrested twice in the space of a few hours now has an anxious wait for the test results. If convicted of drug driving he could face being disqualified from driving, a fine, a prison sentence and a criminal record. A drug drive conviction also means greater insurance costs and the possibility of being unable to travel to countries such as the USA.”

Elsewhere across North Wales, a 38-year-old woman was arrested on Holyhead Road, Bangor just after midnight on Monday 16th April after testing positive for cocaine at the roadside. She was initially stopped by police after being seen driving at excess speed. She also tested positive for alcohol but the reading was just under the legal limit. She has since been released pending the results of further tests.

At around 3pm yesterday afternoon a man was arrested after testing positive for cocaine at the roadside in Queensferry. The 22-year-old, who is from the Anglesey area has since been released pending the results of further tests.

During the early hours of Sunday morning a man was stopped whilst travelling on the A5 near Bangor as he had a defective light. He was subsequently arrested after testing positive for cocaine at the roadside. The 33-year-old man from Wrexham also provided a positive roadside breath test, however he blew under the legal limit after arriving at custody. He has since been released under investigations pending the results of further tests.

On Friday, 13th April a man was stopped on the A548 in Towyn as he was suspected to be involved in shoplifting. Officers searched the vehicle and the 27-year-old driver, who is from the Pensarn area, was arrested on suspicion of going equipped. He also tested positive for cocaine at the roadside and was further arrested on suspicion of drug driving. His vehicle was seized due to no licence or insurance. He has been released under investigation pending the results of further tests.

And a 43-year-old man from Greenfield, Holywell was arrested during the early hours of Saturday after testing positive for cannabis at the roadside. He has since been released under investigation pending the results of further tests.

Sgt Jones said: ““Driving with excess alcohol or under the influence of drugs is not just a criminal offence but also completely unacceptable which puts lives at risk. We will continue to target those breaking the law as part of daily policing.”

The weekend also saw officers dealing with serious road traffic collisions, assisting colleagues from a neighbouring force who were looking for a high risk missing person who was later found, and assisted local policing colleagues with domestic-related incidents.

If you have information relating to someone you think is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, please contact North Wales Police on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.