Man who took tablets and crashed during a mental health crisis is banned from driving
A man who took codeine tablets and drove off in a car to avoid an ambulance during a mental health crisis denied that he deliberately crashed into another vehicle.
Ryan Tyler Weston, aged 22, of Hordern Road, Wolverhampton, admitted driving a Vauxhall Corsa on the A454 near Bridgnorth on March 5, 2023 while unfit to drive through drugs.
Weston appeared at Telford Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty after the charge was put to him.
Weston, who was representing himself, said that he had not been looking to crash the car to kill himself. He had been driving from the Hermitage Roundabout to the Junction East of Swancote at the time.
Joanne Fox, senior prosecutor, said that the defendant had been having a mental health crisis at the time and had a codeine reading of 14 in his system. There is no legal limit for the opioid pain-relief medicine used for the short-term relief of mild to moderate pain.
She added that he had a similar matter against his name in 2018.
But she said she was keeping the full personal details of the incident from the court, and the judge agreed.
Weston passed a pile of papers in his mitigation to the deputy district judge James Hulse who was presiding.
Weston told the court that he does not remember anything about the crash.
"My intention was to get away from an ambulance," he said.
Weston said he didn't think he wanted to crash to kill himself.
Judge Hulse said he had got to impose a driving ban but wanted to keep it to a minimum length because of the impact it would have on Weston's already difficult life.
And because Weston had arrived at court at 9.30am and had been there for most of the day before he was called into Courtroom 3 the judge said that a £120 fine was "deemed paid".
He also said he would not impose prosecution costs but had no choice but to impose a victims' surcharge of £48 which Weston has two months to pay.
Judge Hulse banned Weston from driving for 12 months.
On discharging him from court, the judge wished Weston the best.
"I wish you all the best for the future, you've had a difficult life," he said.
*When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at [email protected], or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Samaritans also say sometimes writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you understand them better.