A SILLOTH motorist has been given a one-year ban for drug driving.

Martin Ware, 28, of Caldew Street, Silloth, admitted the offence and also drug possession when he appeared before Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court.

The offence came to light when police stopped the defendant's Seat Leon car on the afternoon of January 30 as Ware drove northwards along the M6 near Southwaite, the court was told.

Police became suspicious when Ware and his female passenger gave a differing versions of where they had been.

The officers carried out a drug-wipe test, which proved positive. They also searched the car, finding a snap-bag in Ware's wallet.

He was arrested and at Carlisle's Durranhill Police HQ he gave a blood sample which gave a reading of 94mcg in blood for the cocaine breakdown product benzoylecgonine.

The limit is 50mcg.

Addressing the court, Ware told magistrates that he knew what he had done was wrong, and had now stopped using drugs.

He said that he had come through a “rubbish time just lately”. But, he said, he now had a new girlfriend who does not like drugs.

He said that he worried that he may lose his job at a shop in Silloth as a result of mandatory ban for drug driving.

Magistrates disqualified Ware from driving for one year - the minimum ban allowed for the offence of drug driving - and they also imposed a £120 fine.

For the cocaine possession, Ware was fined £40, with prosecuting costs of £85 and a victims surcharge of £34. The drugs were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.