Teaching Assistant Megan Washington Fined for Drug Driving with Child in Car

Chester, UK — A 26-year-old teaching assistant, Megan Washington, has been fined after being caught driving under the influence of drugs. She was stopped by police while driving her Vauxhall Insignia through Moulton village near Chester. A young child was in the passenger seat at the time.

Officers had received a tip-off suggesting she might have smoked cannabis before driving. The incident took place at around 2:50pm on February 9. Washington later told police she used cannabis to manage chronic pain. She added that she had no idea the drug was still in her system.

Caught Over the Limit

Tests revealed that Washington had 2.8 micrograms of THC and 60 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) in her blood. THC is the main active chemical in cannabis. BZE is a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limits are 2 micrograms per litre for THC and 50 for BZE.

Despite the test results, officers did not find any sign of erratic or dangerous driving. She was pulled over based on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and a report, not because of how she was driving.

Admitted to Using Cannabis for Pain

Washington, who lives in Winsford, Cheshire, admitted to being a regular cannabis user. She explained in court that she used the drug for pain relief and was now seeking help to stop. She also said she had received a referral from a doctor for this issue.

She represented herself in court and told magistrates, “I can only apologise. If I knew it was still in my system, I would never have driven.” Washington also said she had sold her car since the incident because it had “freaked her out a bit.”

No Previous Record

The court heard that Washington has no previous convictions and a clean driving licence. She is a mother of one and previously worked as a legal secretary. She is currently studying for a BA Honours in English Literature through the Open University.

Court Decision

At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Washington pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving. She was fined £120, ordered to pay £133 in costs and surcharge, and banned from driving for 16 months.

Magistrate Olga Randall said: “The fine would have been £180, but you pleaded guilty early. You’re working towards getting off drugs. Hopefully, by the time you start driving again, you’ll be back on track.”

Legal Note on Medical Cannabis

According to NHS guidelines, only a small number of people in England qualify for medical cannabis prescriptions. These include some cancer patients, people with severe epilepsy, and those with multiple sclerosis. It is not commonly prescribed for general pain.