Driver who 'swerved to avoid octopus' had taken drugs, court hears

A driver who claimed he had 'swerved to avoid an octopus' when his car overturned had taken a cocktail of drugs, a court has heard.
Robert Shapley, 49, offered the bizarre excuse to officers on the A381 in Devon earlier this year, prompting ridicule when police revealed what had happened.
Police said he was incoherent, mumbled about sea creatures and pretended to be reading an imaginary book about hedgehogs when he was questioned.
He told officers: 'It got a bit bumpy for a while. I swerved to avoid an octopus' and 'it is pretty bad out there having to dodge all that whitebait'.
Robert Shapley, 49, claimed he had 'swerved to avoid an octopus' when his car overturned on the A381 in Devon (stock photo) earlier this year
Shortly after the crash a prankster put up a cut-out of an octopus on a stick in a field close to the crash site.
But police said they found no evidence of an octopus on the road when Shapley overturned his car.
The drugs in Shapley's system included morphine, codeine, cannabis, and a by-product of heroin.
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous 1 Next
Three 15-year-old boys and a 19-year-old who stabbed and... 'This is a politically motivated attempt to reverse Brexit':...
Share this article
Share
Today he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs at Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court.
Philip Sewell, prosecuting, said the crash happened at a junction after Shapley's car overtook another.
His car ended up on its roof in a ditch on the A381 between Malborough and South Milton.
'He was stumbling around, he wasn't coherent,' Mr Sewell said.
The 49-year-old motorist today pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs at Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court (pictured)
Police were called at about 5.15pm and put him in one of their cars before he was checked over by paramedics.
'He continued to talk to the officers, he was talking about squid, octopus and other sea creatures,' Mr Sewell said, adding that he later pretended to be reading about hedgehogs.
Simon Colman, defending, said Shapley suffered from depression and anxiety and took prescription drugs and heroin, but did not remember taking anything prior to driving.
Magistrates said they took a 'very dim view' of his driving and adjourned the case for a report to be prepared about whether he was suitable for a drug rehabilitation requirement.
When police revealed what had happened in February, their Facebook post was met with a series of hilarious responses.
Sarah Louise said: 'Hope the eight long arms of the law managed to reel him in.'
Trevor Mills said: 'Got fined twenty squid and banned from diving for a year.'

dailymail,news,