Ex-car meet organiser Bradley Warren’s driving ban was upheld after his appeal, following drug driving suspicion.
Police arrested him twice, in October and November 2023, suspecting he was driving under the influence of drugs. The 32-year-old refused to give blood samples. The court initially banned him from driving for 16 months at Swindon Magistrates Court in 2024.
Warren appealed his conviction on February 13 at Swindon Crown Court. He claimed a needle phobia made providing samples impossible. The court dismissed his phobia claim, noting no medical diagnosis existed.
The court upheld Warren’s original driving ban and ordered him to pay £1,300. Craig Beales, a Roads Policing officer, says police will pursue suspected drug drivers.
Warren was arrested twice in six weeks. Police suspected Warren drove under the influence, and he refused to give a blood sample. The court dismissed Warren’s appeal, and he is now banned from driving. Drug driving is a serious offense that puts others at risk on the road.
During the first court hearing, more came to light: Warren once organized car meets in Swindon. He stopped after his arrest. His lawyer, Luke Jameson, thought the conviction was unbelievable because a doctor had confirmed Warren had a needle phobia.
Jameson argued Warren needed a vital operation, but his phobia stopped him from getting treatment. A dentist wrote a letter to the court, stating Warren needed dental work, but the phobia stopped those treatments, too. Jameson said the first decision caused distress and depression for Warren.
A healthcare worker spoke about Warren’s tattoos, and the professional thought tattoos made the phobia unlikely. This meant tattoos influenced their decision.