A TAXI driver who took a drink from a can of Red Bull, which he says was spiked with cocaine, was found shortly later by police pulled over drooling and unable to stay awake, heard Skipton magistrates.

Nasir Zia, 43, of Barnoldswick, admitted two counts of driving with over the drug limit but argued special reasons in that he had been unaware of what he was drinking – believing he was just very tired.

But magistrates said he had not been sufficiently prudent as expected of a taxi driver, should have been more cautious in accepting the drink, and banned him from driving for a total of 18 months.

The court heard that police responded to a tip-off at 6.20am on September 15 about a driver who appeared to be under the influence of something.

When the officer arrived, he found Zia’s Peugeot van stopped, and at an angle near Broughton on the A59. Zia was in the driver’s seat, and was drooling; one of his feet was on the brake pedal, and the keys were in the ignition. When the officer woke Zia up, the vehicle rolled forward, because the handbrake had been left off, said prosecutor, Victoria Barker.

Zia kept falling asleep and had to be repeatedly woken up, she said.

Tests showed Zia had 32 microgrammes of cocaine in a litre of blood, the specified limit is 10.

Zia, a family man with four children, told the court he had collected a regular fare from Earby at around 1am, had driven him to Skipton and had arranged to return at about 5am to take him home.

When he had returned, the man offered him a drink from an opened can of Red Bull, which he accepted.

He told the court he regretted accepting the drink, but had no reason to believe there was anything untoward in it. He was also tired, had worked a long day and had hoped the Red Bull would help.

He was on his way back to Earby with his passenger, when the man asked if he could return to Skipton to buy something to drink. He had turned around and was near The Bull at Broughton when he suddenly felt ill, had pulled over and had told his passenger to call for another taxi.

He said he remembered nothing until the officer had arrived, and had firmly believed he was just tired.

Magistrates banned him from driving for 18 months on both counts, but to run at the same time. He was also fined £100 with costs of £310 and a surcharge of £30.

They told Zia, of Wellhouse Road, they had been impressed by the number of people who had written to the court in support of him.

The court heard his taxi licence had been suspended by Pendle Borough Council.

Zia’s disqualification from driving was suspended pending an appeal on sentencing lodged with the crown court.