Suspended jail for banned driver Dylan Hughes caught with class A drug in system

A TOTTON motorist was handed a suspended prison sentence for flouting a roads ban while under the influence of a class A substance.

Dylan Hughes (42), of Chaffinch Close, pleaded guilty to driving a Toyota Yaris while disqualified, as well as drug-driving with benzoylecgonine – the main metabolite of cocaine – in his system.

He also admitted driving the vehicle with ply or cord exposed on a tyre, and fraudulently altering a registration document for it.

All offences related to an incident on the A35 Totton bypass on 16th April 2023.

Ruling only a custodial sentence could be justified due to Hughes’ poor record and the offence coming soon after his ban, Southampton magistrates issued an eight-week term suspended for 12 months.

He was disqualified for three years and told to undergo drug rehabilitation.

The Bench also ordered £239 in court charges be deducted from his benefits.