Mum caught drug-driving with toddler in car but she's blaming 'sleepless nights'

"IT IS A ONE-OFF" 09:05, 21 May 2025Updated 09:12, 21 May 2025 A mum caught drug-driving with a toddler in her car claimed she had resorted to smoking cannabis to help her sleep

because she was 'juggling' looking after three young children. Bethany Evans, 28, was arrested after the smell of cannabis in her Vauxhall Astra was so strong a passing police

patrol was alerted, a court heard. She later tested positive for THC, the principal psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. When quizzed Evans, of Peckfield Close in Runcorn, Cheshire, said she

used cannabis to deal with sleepless nights as traditional medication didn't work. She has since given up the drug, claiming it failed to help her sleep as it made her feel

'anxious and paranoid', magistrates heard. At Warrington magistrates court, Evans admitted drug-driving and possession of cannabis. She was fined £120, ordered to pay £133 in court

costs and banned from driving for 12 months. The incident happened on the evening of March 9 this year. Police spotted Evans parked up in Castlefields Avenue North in Runcorn. Diana

Przemecka, prosecuting, said: "Officers were driving along the road and noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the defendant's vehicle. Subsequently, they approached the

defendant's vehicle parked at the side of the road and the smell of cannabis becomes stronger. There is also a child present in the vehicle. Article continues below "Due to the

smell of cannabis, police search the vehicle and locate a small snapbag of cannabis. She was asked to participate in a roadside drug wipe and she complied with the request. That indicated

positive for cannabis. "Subsequently, the defendant was cautioned and arrested and transported to custody where the full evidential drug-drive procedure commenced. Again, the defendant

compiled with the request and provided a sample of blood, which has been analyzed. There are no previous convictions on the defendant's record." _JOIN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

WHATSAPP GROUP HERE_ Her solicitor, Clare Roach, said: ''She maintains that when police stopped her the cannabis was emanating from a nearby address, but unfortunately for the

defendant she too had cannabis in her system and cannabis on her person, in the vehicle. The reason it was in the vehicle was that she would not allow it in the house where the children

were. It was kept in the vehicle where she knew where it was. "She is a mum of three and she has been diagnosed with ADHD herself and was provided with some medication for difficulty

sleeping. Article continues below "She says it did not work. She has three children, all younger than 10, one with ADHD, one with a learning difficulty and there are concerns about the

eldest one as well. She is trying to work while trying to juggle looking after her children and finances, and cannot seem to get to sleep. "She resorted to self-medicating with

cannabis. She only tried it, not on the evening she was arrested, but two days prior to that point. The cannabis in her vehicle was that leftover from the substance she did use. But it did

not offer her any reassurance for sleeping. It was a pointless exercise. Instead it left her feeling anxious and paranoid. She was not comfortable. "It is a one-off. You can see that

cannabis is not something which she smokes on a regular basis. She won't be doing it again."