A grandmother, aged 34, was arrested by law enforcement for driving under the influence of cannabis while on her way to pick up her daughter from school.
Samantha Eaton, 34, was apprehended during a routine stop in the Bebington area of the Wirral in Merseyside last September. Tests revealed that the mother of two had nearly one and a half times the legal limit of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in her system – the active ingredient in the Class B drug.
Despite her father funding a private blood test to challenge the results, it confirmed that she exceeded the legal limit of 2mg. This incident followed a case where British drug mules were publicly shamed by the police.
Eaton confessed to the offense of drug driving but was not sentenced to prison; instead, she received a three-year driving ban. With a history of prior offenses including drink-driving in 2020 and convictions related to possession of a Class A drug, disorderly conduct, and an insurance-related offense, the former care worker was fined £160 and ordered to pay £264 in costs and surcharges at Sefton Magistrates’ Court.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Eaton had to relocate from her residence in 2023 due to a violent attack involving a petrol bomb by criminals associated with her ex-partner, who is in jail. Representing herself, she described the emotional toll the incident had on her family.
Eaton shared that she resorted to using cannabis to aid her sleep and was unaware that she would exceed the legal limit when stopped by the police. She has since switched to prescribed medication and ceased using the drug.
Expressing remorse, she acknowledged her troubled past and emphasized the significant impact the driving ban will have on her life, especially since she lives far from familiar surroundings. Eaton reflected on her challenges and expressed intentions to return to care work.
The sentencing judge, Timothy Boswell, highlighted the risks and legal consequences of using illegal drugs like cannabis, despite considering Eaton’s past trauma and panic attacks. He emphasized the importance of seeking proper help rather than turning to illicit substances for solutions.