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Drug driver’s one-war error


A DRIVER, high on cocaine, es- caped officers’ attempts to stop him by running away, resulting in a full area search in Maid- stone, a court heard. Paul John Lind (29), of Tippen


Way,Marden was spotted by po- lice at around 1.45pm on August 16 2018 driving the wrong way down a oneway street. Two officers followed the vehi-


cle down Boxley Road, where it eventually stopped in Alexandra Street. Prosecuting, Paul Edwards


said: “Mr Lind evaded police and ran out of his grey Vauxhall In- signia to get away,which resulted in an area search for him.” Police caught up with him and smelt alcohol and


officers


cannabis on him. He was “stum- bling and slurring hiswords,with glazed eyes”. A toxicologist revealed there


was 12g of cocaine found in his blood following a drug blood test.


Matthew Davis, defending,


told the court that Lind had been out the night before and had con- sumed alcohol and cocaine. MrDavis said: “Mr Lind deeply


regrets getting in his car that af- ternoon, but felt since it was the next day and the effects hadworn off, hewas safe.Hewas under the legal alcohol limit but the cocaine was still in his system. “Though this decisionwas very


unwise, he is extremely remorse- ful.” The court heard Lind has


worked as a carpenter since he left school, and currently lives with his partner, child and step- children. Chairman of the bench, Jean


Sanderson said: “The aggravating feature in this case is the fact you alsowent the wrong way down a oneway street.” Lind admitted driving a vehicle


whilst on drugs and was given a 12-month ban and a £365 fine.


Burglar’s unlikely story


ASERIALburglar, capturednear the scene of an earlymorning break-in, told police he was only wearing tights over his head to keepwarm. Charles Traverso, (43), pictured,


who also had £92.37 in loose change in his pocket and a rucksack packed with tools, said he ran from officersbecausetheir torches scared him. And he insisted the tight-wearing


crook theywere hunting following a raid on theMaidstone convenience store next door,was someone else. But,afterpleadingguiltyatMaid-


stone Crown Court to the burglary, hewas sent down for two years and fivemonths onMarch 8. The court heard Traverso, of no


fixed abode, broke into the shop in Union Street after forcing a lock at around2.45amonDecember20last year. CCTV recorded him stealing money, alcohol and cigarettes be- fore leaving through the back en- trance. He was arrested in the garden of


a neighbouring property, wearing gloves, tights on his head, a hat and a hood. Officers searching nearby found thetill fromtheshop,alongwithbot-


tles of stolen alcohol. Traverso, who has 19 different


aliases, was under a supervision order for a previous burglary at the time of the offence. He told officers he was wearing


tightsonhisheadinorder tokeephis hat onwhile riding his bike, because he gets cold. Healsosaidhehadbeensleeping


in the back of a vehicle near the storefollowinganargumentwithhis girlfriend, and that he had been wokenbytheofficers’ torches,which caused him to panic and run. The court heard Traverso had a string of previous convictions for burglary, fraud and drugs.


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