Ipswich man Brandon Polley disqualified from driving after being caught on an e-scooter while under the influence

An Ipswich man who was caught riding an e-scooter while under the influence of drugs has been disqualified from driving and order to pay over £1,700 in penalties.

Brandon Polley, 22, of Cauldwell Hall Road, appeared before Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Friday, February 17, where he pleaded guilty to multiple offences.

Shortly after midnight on Thursday, June 23, last year, Polley was seen riding an e-scooter on Bishops Hill by officers in a marked police car.

Polley then fell off the scooter and stepped into the road in front of them.

One of the officers then got out of the car and approached him, before he got up and rode off in the direction of Nacton Road.

Officers then pursued Polley, before he rode into an officer in Felixstowe Road despite having been given a clear instruction to stop.

Polley was arrested for failing to stop, and subsequently made comments about having taken ketamine.

He was further arrested on suspicion of drug-driving, and analysis of a blood sample found he had 122 microgammes per litre of blood, over six times the legal limit.

A quantity of white powder was found following a search of his bag, which was sent for forensic analysis and found to be ketamine.

At Suffolk Magistrates' Court, Polley plead guilty to the following offences:

• Using a motor vehicle without insurance
• Failing to stop for police
• Two counts of riding on a footpath designated for pedestrian use
• Possession of a Class B drug (ketamine)

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months, and ordered to pay £1,230 in fines and a £492 victim surcharge.

PC Jake Lees, of the Sentinel South Team, said: “Riding or driving any vehicle under the influence of drugs poses a danger to other members of the public – even more so when that vehicle is being used on a footpath.

“Brandon Polley could have caused serious injuries to a pedestrian – especially in his reckless attempts to evade police – or been involved in a collision with another vehicle, which would have likely caused serious injuries to himself. This very nearly happened that night when he came off the footpath just in front of our police car."