A DRIVER who got behind the wheel while almost nine times the legal drug limit has been banned from the roads.

Jamie Roberts, of Oakdean Court, Wilmslow, admitted drug-driving at an earlier court hearing on March 12.

The case was adjourned at Chester Magistrates’ Court until April 25 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

The 34-year old was driving a Volvo on Rossmore Road East in Ellesmere Port on September 2, last year, when he was stopped by the police.

A subsequent blood test revealed he was over the legal limit for a drug substance.

A blood test recorded 448µg/L of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, in his system.

The legal limit is 50µg/L.

Roberts was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

An interim disqualification had started when he pleaded guilty on March 12.

Disqualification is obligatory for drug driving offences, the court heard.

The defendant was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £120 costs and £48 victim surcharge.

Roberts also pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence on the same day as the drugs offence.

Magistrates endorsed his driving licence but did not impose a separate penalty.

The bench took both guilty pleas into consideration when imposing the sentence.

Roberts was given 14 days to pay the £288 court penalty in full.