A DRUG driver has been stripped of his licence after he was caught at several times the legal limit for more than one substance.

Thomas Halford, of Bradbury Road in Winsford, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 33-year-old admitted that on November 27 he drove a Mercedes motor vehicle in Cherry Dale Road, Broughton, when the proportion of cannabis and benzoylecgonine (a cocaine breakdown product also referred to as BZE) in his blood exceeded the specified limit.

He was found to have more than 400 microgrammes of BZE per litre of blood, the limit being 50, and no less than 6.9 microgrammes of cannabis per litre of blood - the limit being 2.

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Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court that on the day of the offence, the defendant was pulled over by police due to concerns that his vehicle "appeared to be poorly maintained."

Halford had one passenger - his partner - and officers noticed a smell of cannabis.

A drugs swipe confirmed the presence of cannabis and cocaine, which led to him giving a blood sample and ultimately being charged.

A probation officer told the court that Halford had been open about the fact he'd taken cocaine two days prior to the stop, and hadn't considered that the substance would still be present in his system.

He did however admit to smoking cannabis on the day. Despite saying he didn't feel unfit to drive, he did concede he'd been "foolish" in getting behind the wheel.

The court heard the defendant planned to carry on smoking cannabis, which he considered a form of self medication, instead of returning to the road when he is permitted to.

It was also said that the probation service didn't feel it could offer the defendant further assistance as he had completed programmes previously.

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Andy Hutchinson, defending, told the court his client had entered timely guilty pleas and had offered the police his full cooperation after being stopped.

He added there was "no suggestion of bad driving" and asked the court to take into account his mental health difficulties.

Halford received a three month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, as well as a 36 month driving ban.

He must also pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.