Moment driver is caught snorting cocaine behind the wheel of his Kia earlier than main police on cross-county chase

This is the shocking moment a driver was caught on CCTV brazenly snorting cocaine behind the wheel of a car before he drove off.

Samuel Batters was then pursued by Cambridgeshire Police across the county.

CCTV footage showed Batters sat in the driver’s seat of a Kia Sportage in Cambridge at 3am on August 10.  

Batters is inside the vehicle with two other friends and can be seen snorting cocaine while in conversation with his friends before driving off.

Unluckily for Batters, his drug-taking took place in full view of city cameras whose operators  were watching. 

Police were contacted and found Batters’ Kia Sportage on Victoria Road, in the north of the city, but despite initially appearing to stop, he then sped off.

As police continued to follow the 22-year-old, he began colliding with several parked cars and fences before pulling over and attempting to flee on foot.

The 22-year-old was eventually arrested a short time after.  

CCTV footage shows Samuel Batters inside his car with two other friends where he can be seen snorting cocaine while in conversation with his friends

Unluckily for Batters, his drug-taking took place in full view of city cameras whose operators were keeping an eye on him. Police were contacted and found Batter’s Kia Sportage on Victoria Road, in the north of the city, but despite initially appearing to stop, he then sped off

CCTV footage showed Batters sat in the driver’s seat of a Kia Sportage in Cambridge at 3am on August 10

He tested positive for cocaine and cannabis on a drug swipe and gave a roadside breath sample of 74, more than twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.

In custody he provided an evidential reading of 53 microgrammes.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Friday November 22, Batters – of Highfield Drive, Littleport, Cambs – was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, after previously pleading guilty to dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop after a road accident.

He was also disqualified from driving for 22 months and given a three month curfew to remain home between 8.30pm and 7am daily.

PC Shelley Cannon, from the Road Policing Unit, said: ‘Batters showed total disregard for the safety of other road users, passengers and potential pedestrians who might’ve been in the area at the time.

‘His driving fell far below that expected of a competent and careful driver which goes to show the effects alcohol and drugs have on a driver’s confidence and risk-taking behaviour.’