A disqualified driver taking his three-year-old child with suspected sepsis to hospital was arrested for drug driving after his Mercedes Benz was pinged by an ANPR camera.

Aaron Rollins, 33, of Fore Street, Chacewater, pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance, driving whilst disqualified and drug driving after cocaine was found in his bloodstream.

The CPS told Truro magistrates that on April 4 this year, Rollins’ Mercedes Benz was pinged as it drove on the A39 between Carnon Downs and Playing Place.

Officers on patrol stopped the car which they found also contained a woman and three-year-old child.

The driver, Rollins, said he was taking his son to hospital as they suspected he had sepsis and had been told that they would have to wait up to five hours for an ambulance.

The officers drove Rollins, the woman and child to the hospital where it was confirmed the youngster did have sepsis and ended up in hospital for seven days.

“Afterwards the defendant asked to be dropped at his house,” said the prosecution. “As they took him there they smelt cannabis coming from him and at the station he tested positive for cocaine.”

She said Rollins had quite a few driving convictions including a disqualification from 2014 and a re-test had been ordered so he could drive again. He had not yet retaken his driving test.

His defence solicitor said Rollins had consumed the cocaine in the three days before this event. He said Rollins' former partner, who lives in Helston, had phoned him saying she was at the GP surgery in Helston and their son was ill and he had sepsis or possible meningitis.

The surgery had phoned an ambulance but had been told there was a five hour wait to get an ambulance to Treliske and he had agreed to get a vehicle pick them up, take them to the hospital and bring them back.

“He was stopped by the police at Playing Place and the officers were clearly satisfied that was the case because they took him in their car and drove him, the child and the partner to Treliske,” he said.

“Clearly there was a genuine emergency.”

He said Rollins' son was in hospital with sepsis for seven days.

Rollins was disqualified from driving for a further 48 months, meaning he won’t be able to drive again until July 10, 2028.

He was also given a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation days with 80 hours unpaid work in the community.

There was no separate penalty for driving with no insurance.