A WREXHAM woman has been fined and banned after police caught her driving whilst just over the cannabis limit.

Keira Forward, of Tan y Coed, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old admitted that on February 20, she drove a Seat motor vehicle in Queensway, Wrexham, when the proportion of cannabis in her blood exceeded the specified limit.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that at around 8am on the day in question, police were informed of a suspected drug-driver in the Wrexham area.

The vehicle, driven by Forward, was located and stopped.

A positive roadside reading for cannabis was followed up by blood testing; which revealed Forward had 2.1 microgrammes of cannabis per litre of blood. The limit is 2.

Chris Clark, defending, told the court: "It's unfortunate that this offence has occurred.

"She has been receiving support with her mental health but she finds cannabis to be a coping mechanism.

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"Certainly when she drove that day, there was nothing untoward about her driving.

"It was a very low reading - and just over the limit.

"The obligatory disqualification will cause tremendous difficulty for her family.

"I ask you to keep the disqualification to the minimum.

"She is currently on a college course for hairdressing and this is her first time before the court."

The Magistrates handed down a 12 month driving ban and ordered the defendant to pay an £80 fine, as well as a £32 victim surcharge and £85 costs.