A driver who was almost five times the drug drive limit has been banned from the road for three years.

James Samuel John Thompson, 35, admitted driving on the A6071 while above the legal limit for cocaine when he appeared before Carlisle’s magistrates’ court on Tuesday.

Diane Jackson, prosecuting, told the court: “At 11.30pm on December 2, officers at Longtown witnessed a vehicle travelling southbound on the A6071.

“Their attention was drawn to the vehicle as it was travelling at speed in the opposite direction.”

Officers stopped Thompson’s Vauxhall Astra and asked him to conduct a roadside drugs test.

He tested positive for cocaine derivative.

He was subsequently arrested and a drug test in police custody found him to have 248mcg of Benzoylecgonine - a breakdown product of cocaine - per litre of blood.

The legal limit for driving is 50 microgrammes.

Mrs Jackson told the court that Thompson, of Berrymoor Road in Brampton, had three previous convictions to his name for drink driving, with the latest in 2012.

Chris Toms, defending, said: “He has suffered a terrible tragedy, where both sisters died of breast cancer.”

Mr Toms said his client had been helping - along with his mother - with childcare for the children left behind by his sisters.

He said that Thompson had since lost his job as a highway main operator.

“There was no evidence he was an incapable driver, no evidence he was incapacitated. With police he was friendly and cooperative,” Mr Toms told the court.

Such was the state of his client, said Mr Toms, that upon completing his interview with officers he was allowed to return home, rather than having to sober up in a police cell overnight.

“He didn’t feel hindered to drive,” continued Mr Toms.

“There is no indication this was affecting him.”

Presiding magistrate Chris Baird told the defendant: “As you are aware, there are certain things where I have no leeway and that we must do.”

He disqualified Thompson from driving for the next three years.

Thompson was fined £120, told to pay a £32 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.