Ice cream man was high on cannabis and cocaine while serving kids
Gaetano Palminteri was caught well over the drug-drive limit twice in less than two months
AN ice cream man was high on drugs as he served kids, a court heard.
Cops stopped Gaetano Palminteri, 52, and found cocaine and herbal cannabis in his Mercedes Sprinter ice cream van.
In May, he was 16 times the drug-drive limit on his run in Harlow, Essex.
Palminteri had 800 micrograms of benzoylecgonine — produced after taking cocaine — in his blood. The limit is 50.
The prosecution told the court: ""He was as high as the calibration can go."
As well as the benzoylecgonine found in his bloodstream, "There was also 83 micrograms of cocaine when the legal limit is ten. He said he had been a regular user for the last few months."
A month later, he was again over the limit. This time there waere 376 micrograms of benzoylecgonine in his blood while he was driving.
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Magistrates said the fact he had been serving to children was "an aggravating feature" as they admonished Palminteri for his actions.
Palminteri, of Hoddesdon, Herts, admitted possessing cannabis and cocaine and driving while over the drug-drive limit.
He received a suspended 16-week jail term and was banned from driving for three years by Chelmsford magistrates.
He will also carry out 20 days of drugs rehabilitation.
His defence said the court case was “a huge wake-up call”.