Personal Assistant Fined After Cocaine Discovery and Medical Episode
Hadiza Atunse, a 25-year-old personal assistant from Middleton in Greater Manchester, has avoided a potential 51-week jail sentence after being caught with a bag of cocaine following a car collision. Instead, she received a £730 fine and a £377 surcharge at Crewe Magistrates Court, with the decision influenced by reports that she suffered from a suspected case of Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD), commonly known as excited delirium syndrome.
Chaotic Scene After December Crash
The incident unfolded on December 10 last year when Atunse's Toyota Auris collided with a Mini Cooper in Wilmslow, Cheshire, ending up in a row of hedges. Police arrived to find the Mini Cooper in the middle of a roundabout and Atunse behaving erratically and obstructively. She failed to provide a breath test or follow instructions, leading to her custody. Officers discovered she was driving without insurance, as her coverage had expired approximately two weeks earlier on November 22.
Medical Emergency and Legal Proceedings
Prosecutor Christian Cooper detailed that Atunse was taken to Leighton Hospital in Crewe after refusing a blood sample, where she was assessed for ABD. This condition, which can cause extreme agitation, delirium, and autonomic dysfunction, is considered a major medical emergency that can lead to cardiac arrest and death. Police guidance notes that over 10% of those with symptoms could be at risk of cardiac arrest-related death, advising such cases be taken directly to emergency departments rather than custody.
In court, it was confirmed that Atunse was not suspected of drug driving, and no roadside drug wipe test was administered. Defence solicitor Sarah Bedford argued that Atunse had little recollection of the events, describing her as frightened and scared. Bedford emphasized the significant impact of losing her driving licence, as Atunse works for a Lancaster-based company caring for people with spinal injuries, relying on her car for work, shopping, and hospital appointments.
Outcome and Future Implications
Atunse, who has no previous convictions, accepted possession of cocaine on the day, stating she needed to move on with her life. In addition to the fine, she was banned from driving for 22 months but offered the chance to reduce the ban by a quarter if she completes a drink drive awareness course. The case highlights the complex interplay between legal accountability and medical conditions like excited delirium syndrome, which remains an umbrella term for various diagnoses including psychiatric disorders, substance misuse, and head injuries.
