Michael Evans, 60, was behind the wheel of a Peugeot 207 on Beechwood Road in Newport on Friday, November 28, 2025, when he struck Janette Howells. Andrew Cooper-Gadd, prosecuting, told the city’s magistrates’ court the defendant had 240 micrograms per litre of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in his blood when he was driving. Evans, of Somerhill Avenue, Maindee, Newport pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving and drug driving. The court can still send an offender straight to prison, but it must identify exceptional circumstances justifying immediate custody. The court made no order for compensation as the defendant had insurance and matters will be dealt with through his insurers.