AN Aberystwyth man was dragged from his Aston Martin car, handcuffed and arrested on allegations of fraud, theft and harassment after being stopped by eight officers in four police cars.

Timothy Banks Jenkins (pictured), aged 36, was driving to Aberystwyth from the Midlands when he was stopped on the A487 in Bow Street by police who had followed him from Machynlleth. Jenkins was stopped after police received a complaint about him, but he was never charged with any of the original allegations.

While he was at Aberystwyth Police Station, “information” was received by officers which suggested he may have been driving under the influence of drugs. Aberystwyth magistrates were told a drug swipe test proved positive for cocaine and blood was taken for analysis.

Jenkins, of River Glen, Penparcau Road, Penparcau, was charged with driving with levels of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, above the specified limit.

Jenkins pleaded not guilty to two charges of drug-driving on 9 June. He told magistrates he should be cleared of the charges because police had not offered or provided him with a specimen of the blood so he could get it analysed himself.

But he was found guilty and banned from driving for 22 months. He was also fined £180 and ordered to pay costs of £650.

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