A 36-year-old drug-driving dance teacher who turned to a “party lifestyle” sheds tears after being banned from going out for a year as schools are forced to close due to the coronavirus lockdown

• Sarah Lumsden, 36, opened her own dance school in Cheshire in 2011.
• A mother of two tested positive for cocaine after being stopped by police last year.

A drug-driving dance teacher who claimed to have turned to a “party lifestyle” after schools were forced to close due to the coronavirus lockdown broke down in tears as she was sentenced to a one-year ban.

Sarah Lumsden, 36, tested positive for cocaine after she was stopped by police in Dutton, Cheshire, in July last year after they noticed her driving erratically.

Officers also smelled a “strong odor” of cannabis coming from inside the A-Class Mercedes hatchback.

The mother-of-two, who taught street dancing and cheerleading to young people at her local primary school in Widnes, Cheshire, was arrested for the ‘partying’ lifestyle she turned to after her business closed due to coronavirus. claimed to be the cause.

She also accused her then-boyfriend of “blatantly” smoking marijuana in the passenger seat.

Tests revealed that Ramsden, who now works as a traveling hairdresser, had 126 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE), a breakdown product of cocaine, in her blood when she was stopped in the village of Dutton, near Chester. It turned out that The legal limit is 50mg.

At Chester Crown Court, Ramsden wept in court as she admitted drug-driving, as her father and teenage daughter watched on in the audience.

She was fined £80, ordered to pay £152 costs and banned from driving for 12 months.

Ms Ramsden founded dance school SJ Pure Street in 2011 after reaching the finals of a talent competition.

She completed an adult learning qualification, took a Prince’s Trust course, gained a first aid qualification to add to her BTEC National Diploma in Dance, and taught dance at a local primary school.

She then organized dance shows at carnivals and covered the health benefits of dancing in local newspapers.

“I really want to give something back to the community,” she said at the time. I want people to dance, laugh and feel good. ”

But Jessica Pridding, prosecuting, said: “On Saturday, July 29 last year, a blue Mercedes A-Class was spotted exceeding the speed limit and straddling the white line on Northwich Road in Dutton.” .

“Officers stopped the vehicle. As they approached the vehicle, a strong odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle.

“The defendant provided a breath sample, which tested positive for marijuana and cocaine on a roadside drug test.

“The accused was arrested. She has no previous convictions. There was an unacceptable standard of driving.”

Defense attorney Gary Lawrenson said: “When police were on scene, she was in a car with someone who was actively smoking marijuana.”

“He spoke openly about it and was her boyfriend at the time. However, my client’s father did not want me to explain how he described him.

“The party and other events that led to this have left a lasting impression on this young woman and will remain for a considerable period of time due to the inevitable disqualification.”

“She was a single mother and trained as a dancer since her school days. She taught street dance to children from the age of five to teenagers, and even some adults.

“This was paid for for a variety of reasons due to Covid-19 and like many people during lockdown she got a job as a delivery driver for Asda.

“While working as a dance instructor, she returned to university to train as a hairdresser and has had some success, but her work as a traveling hairdresser is over.”

“Obviously she’s a hard-working woman and she’s very embarrassed and embarrassed to be here. She’s really heartbroken. It’s nice in a way to be here with her daughter and her dad. That’s not the point.

“She’s going to go back to work and do something as soon as possible. Her daughter works nights in a pub in Runcorn and is having trouble getting to work.

“Her son is eight years old. They are all going to suffer.”

Sentencing Lumsden, JP Alan Davies said: “I understand you are very, very upset, but we need to take a hard look at the system.”

“Disqualification is not an option. However, the fine will be significantly reduced based on the ability to pay while unemployed rather than salary.

“Due to your previous good character and prompt guilty plea, we will reduce the period of disqualification. “I am sure you will not drive, but if you did it would be a very serious I need to warn you that this is a crime.”