Teenager tells of shame after four arrests in four months for driving under the influence of drugs

Heidi Baxter, 19, of Ferry Lane, Brothertoft, admitted five offences of driving under the influence of drugs and one of drugs possession when she appeared at Boston Magistrates Court.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said she was first arrested on October 29 in Grantham Road, Sleaford while driving her Vauxhall Corsa with 188 micrograms of ketamine in her blood, the legal limit being 20, and 2.8 micrograms of cannabis, the legal limit being 2.

On December 19, she was arrested again in her car in Eastwood Road, Boston with seven micrograms of cannabis in her blood.

On February 12, she was arrested in her car in John Adams Way when she was found to have 5.7 micrograms of cannabis in her blood stream and the following day, February 13, she was arrested again, this time in Spilsby Road, Boston with 5.7 micrograms of cannabis in her blood.

She also had cannabis in the car with her.

Beris Brickles, mitigating, said Miss Baxter had no previous convictions and had fully co-operated with the police.

He read a letter from her to the magistrates in which she expressed her 'sincere remorse' and wrote that 'she had never been so ashamed of herself'.

She said she had lost all three of her jobs last year because she worked in the hospitality sector which had closed down because of the Covid pandemic.

She said she became 'reckless and careless and got in with the wrong people'.

It was said she had been clear of drugs since her last arrest and was now reconciled with her parents.

After hearing from the probation service, the magistrates banned her from driving for 22 months and ordered her to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work for the community.

She was also ordered to pay £180 in court costs and charges.