A DARWEN businessman was found to be in possession of a class B drug after being taken into custody for drink driving.

Liverpool and St Helens magistrates heard how the former managing director of family-owned business Canopies UK on Chanters Way, Darwen, had drugs on his person after being arrested for drink-driving outside an address a 20-minute drive from his then Merseyside home on April 27, 2020.

Jason Eastwood, 48, of The Keel, Kings Parade, Liverpool, was found guilty of driving his Volvo in excess of the prescribed legal limit and pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled class B amphetamine on July 9.

He will carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, in addition to a supervised 30-day rehabilitation activity over the course of the next 12 months.

Eastwood was subsequently disqualified from driving for three years.

The court also heard how a day prior to his arrest, on April 26, he was found to have sent a ‘grossly offensive’ or ‘menacing’ message to Victoria Eastwood.

A five-year restraining order has been brought against him, prohibiting him from contacting Mrs Eastwood, Charlotte Apter-Cannon or Emily Apter directly or indirectly by any means and must not enter the Bellfield estate, Liverpool until July 8, 2026.

Mr Eastwood originally pleaded not guilty to these charges but changed his plea to guilty at a later date. His guilty plea was taken into account when sentencing.

The Lancashire Telegraph contacted Canopies UK regarding this matter and a spokesman said that Mr Eastwood “has not been an employee of this company since October 2020”.

He was however still the managing director of Canopies UK when the offences took place.

Canopies UK was established in 1990. It provides canopies and glass verandas to hospitality venues, hospitals, schools, new builds, industrial facilities and other businesses throughout the UK.