AN ISLE of Wight woman caught almost five times over the drug driving limit for cocaine has been banned from the road.

Charlotte Gayle, of Princes Street, Cowes, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Friday, February 2.

At a previous hearing in December, the 31-year-old admitted drug driving in Cowes, and driving without insurance, on August 11 of last year, and her case was adjourned so a pre-sentence report could be drawn up.

Prosecutor, Munayah Hussan, said police had been on patrol and were alerted to a motorist driving without insurance.

When the driver, Gayle, was stopped by police, she tested positive for cannabis and cocaine, although only the latter was found to be over the specified limit.

She registered a reading of 240 for benzoylecgonine – a derivative of cocaine – when the specified limit is 50.

Michael McGoldrick, defending, said Gayle had recently come out of a difficult, violent relationship. She was intentionally homeless and in temporary accommodation, and unable to continue with her job.

The court heard she made a stupid mistake, took cocaine to give herself “Dutch courage”, and had learnt significant lessons.

Gayle was made subject of a 12-month community order, to include 20 rehabilitation days, and disqualified from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 with a £114 surcharge.