A WREXHAM teenager has been fined and banned after he was caught drug-driving.

Archie Milne, of Chester Road, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Monday morning.

The 19-year-old admitted that on March 26 at Gladwyn Road in Wrexham, he drove a Volkswagen Polo when the proportion of cannabis and benzoylecgonine (cocaine breakdown product) in his blood exceeded the specified limit.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court Milne was seen by police leaving the Caia Park area and was stopped.

The defendant gave readings of 6.9 microgrammes of cannabis per litre of blood (the limit being 2) and 145 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood (the limit being 50.)

There was no suggestion of any impairment to his manner of driving, Mr Espie added.

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Mark Kellet, defending, told the court his client had used cannabis earlier in the day and when he was stopped he had been taking a friend home.

"He felt no effect," Mr Kellet added - clarifying the defendant had used cocaine some days previously.

He continued: "He is 19 years of age and is of good character."

The court heard Milne had undergone surgery when he was a child after it was discovered he had "a kink in his aorta."

He suffered a stroke during the surgery and developed a condition "akin to Tourette's" which affects his consequential thinking, Mr Kellet said, adding he is a hard working young man who had achieved qualifications.

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Magistrates Chairman Geoff Bull told the defendant: "What a shame. 

"A medical record, an education record, an employment record - now you've got a criminal record."

He handed down a £229 fine and ordered Milne to pay a £92 victim surcharge and £85 costs."

He was also banned from driving for 16 months.