A BROUGHTON man was caught drug-driving after going out with friends to mark the FA Cup final this year, a court heard.

Gareth Williams, of Robins Court, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 33-year-old admitted that on May 14, he drove a Mazda motor vehicle in Messham Close in Broughton when the proportion of Benzoylecgonine (cocaine breakdown product) in his blood exceeded the limit.

He was found to have no less than 375 microgrammes of the substance per litre of blood, the limit being 50.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court that on the day of the offence, police were informed the defendant had potentially taken drugs at a party and was about to leave in his vehicle.

Officers made their way to his home and saw him arriving in the area shortly after 1.30am.

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He provided a positive test for cocaine and was taken into custody, where he provided the reading he was subsequently charged with.

Jack Cooper, defending, said his client is a man of previous good character and asked District Judge Gwyn Jones to offer him full credit for his guilty plea.

He explained: "He had been out for the FA Cup final with friends.

"They went to a gathering and he wanted to go home.

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"He felt ok to drive, but he understands he shouldn't have - and that limits are in place for a reason.

"He's a financial contractor through Lloyds Bank and has progressed from a lower role up through many years of hard work to a job he loves."

Williams was not sure how the conviction would affect his job, he added.

The District Judge handed down a fine of £550 and ordered the defendant to pay £85 costs, as well as a £55 victim surcharge.

Williams was banned from driving for 16 months.