DRIVER HAD BEEN ‘SMOKING DRUGS’

MOTORIST John Kent has been banned from the roads for 14 months after he admitted driving when he had smoked cannabis.

The 32-year-old was driving a Land Rover when police pulled the vehicle over in Newcastle due to a broken light.

Magistrates heard officers then smelled cannabis and conducted a roadside cannabis swipe which was positive.

Kent, of Woodlands Road, Trent Vale, gave a blood sample in custody which showed he was over the legal limit for cannabis derivative THC.

He went on to plead guilty to driving a vehicle with a proportion of a drug above the limit.

James Hulse, mitigating, said: “Mr Kent entered his guilty plea at the first opportunity. There was no bad driving. He will feel the full force of his disqualification. It may impact on his employment.”

Kent was fined £313 and must pay £169 in costs.