An Essex aristocrat caused a car accident while under the influence of prescription drugs.
Admission - Mark Petre admitted driving while unfit through drugs.
Mark Petre, of Ingatestone Hall, admitted driving while unfit through drugs at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday. The 34-year-old will be sentenced in March, but has been banned from the roads with immediate effect.
Gerald Isted, prosecuting, told the court Petre had been driving his Mercedes car in Ivy Barnes Lane, Margaretting, at 5.45pm on November 5, 2003.
He said a woman driving a BMW down the road had seen the vehicle "close behind her car with the headlamps on full beam". As she slowed to turn into her driveway, Petre crashed into the back of her.
Mr Isted said both the woman and other witnesses had thought the defendant seemed "intoxicated" when he got out of the car.
Petre was breathalysed and found to have no alcohol in his system but a blood test carried out by a police doctor revealed temazapam.
He admitted in interview having taken the drug the previous evening and again that morning and admitted causing the crash.
Magistrates told him a probation service report would be carried out before sentencing, as the offence was serious enough for a jail term to be considered.
Published Friday January 23, 2004
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