Single mother, 27, who drove through a red light whilst under the influence of cannabis fined just £120 after claiming she had been smoking the drug to cope with having a 'challenging' daughter

A mother caught drug driving was fined just £120 after claiming smoking cannabis helped her cope with her 'challenging' daughter.

Single mother Alex Rankin, 27, tested almost twice the drug-driving limit after her Ford Fiesta was seen running a red light by a police patrol on New Year's Eve last year.

Rankin later claimed she used cannabis as a 'coping mechanism' because her six-year-old child has ADHD and Pathological Demand Avoidance, a condition associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a court heard.

She said she had additionally not been concentrating on the road properly as she had just had an argument with her mother. 

Rankin admitted smoking cannabis in the run-up to the incident, but claimed she did not realise it would still be in her system.

Single mother Alex Rankin, 27, was fined just £120 for drug driving after claiming smoking cannabis helped her cope with her 'challenging' daughter

Rankin claimed she used cannabis as a 'coping mechanism' because her six-year-old child has ADHD, autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance, a condition associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Tests showed she had 3.4 micrograms of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per litre of blood in her system, the legal limit being 2mcg/l. 

THC is the principal active ingredient in cannabis.

At Sefton magistrates court, Rankin, of Everton, Liverpool pleaded guilty to drug driving.

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She was also banned from the roads for 15 months and ordered to pay £133 costs.

Angela Conlan, prosecuting, said: 'She admitted that she had driven through the red traffic light. 

'A drug wipe was positive and subsequently a blood sample was taken. The defendant has no previous convictions. 

'She had a caution back in 2017 for possession of drugs.'

In mitigation, defence solicitor Lee Arnold said: 'Her daughter is six-years-old and she has ADHD, autism and PDA.

'The defendant has a very challenging day-to-day life. Her daughter cannot attend mainstream school.

'As a coping mechanism she smokes cannabis. She has a caution for possession of cannabis, but has not got an issue with it. 

'She realises that she cannot be doing this with a challenging daughter.'

Sentencing Rankin, District Judge Timothy Boswell told her: 'Cannabis can cause harm physically and mentally and can bring you into contact with serious criminals and the criminal justice system, as it has done.

Rankin was also banned from the roads for 15 months and ordered to pay £133 costs

Rankin pleaded guilty to drug driving and was sentenced at Sefton Magistrates' Court (pictured)

'It affects your judgement and whether it is because of cannabis or a lack of concentration because you were emotionally upset having had an argument that you drove through the red light, we will perhaps never know, but that is what drew police attention to you and caused police to stop you.

'When you were stopped you were swabbed. Cannabis was in your system and tests followed. 

'You have no previous convictions and you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. 

'You have challenges in your own life due to your daughter's difficulties.

'I have been told you have not smoked cannabis since and it is not something you have a problem with, I hope that's correct.

'Frankly it's not worth it. It brings you into these situations and gives you a criminal record.

'I hope that is sufficient motivation there to not do it again.'