Convicted Havant drug driver gets into spat with Portsmouth judge who said he has "one more chance"
Darren Page ended up in a heated back and forth with a court judge over a string of drug driving convictions.
A man who has pleaded guilty to drug driving ended up in a court spat with a judge.
Darren Page, 45 of Bondfields Crescent in Havant, admitted to three counts of drug driving, along with using a passenger vehicle with tyres with insufficient tread, and driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
On August 21 last year, Page was pulled over by police in Bishopstoke Road in Leigh Park, where officers found cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his blood.
It came after a previous offence on March 5 last year, where Page was again found with benzoylecgonine in his system in Purbrook Way, Bedhampton.
Appearing at Portsmouth Magistrates Court today (Friday, April 10), Page was told by Deputy District Judge Brown that he was staring down the barrel of a prison sentence.
He said: “You have pleased guilty to serious offences, and repeated drug driving. You could very easily be facing a prison sentence.”
A dispute then arose over Page's co-operation with the probation service - as well as whether his sentencing would be adjourned.
Representing himself and wearing a tracksuit in the dock, Page said: “I have worked with probation. We've spoken over the phone and on [Microsoft] Teams yesterday - they said we would adjourn it.”
In response, the judge pointed to a missed appointment with the probation service, saying that Page's “excuse” of having low battery on his phone was insufficient. The pair went back and forth before Judge Brown raised his voice to interrupt him.
“Just listen to me,” Judge Brown said. “You have one more chance. If you mess probation around again you will be sentenced next time, there and then. You are still disqualified from driving.”
Page will next appear in court on August 4.