A DRIVER who got behind the wheel while 16 times the legal drug limit has been banned from the roads.

Kevin Ashcombe, of Churchfields, Knutsford, admitted drug driving and appeared at Crewe Magistrates to be sentenced on November 14.

The 34-year-old was driving a Vauxhall Vivaro on Fulshaw Park South in Wilmslow, on April 5, this year, when he was stopped by the police.

Subsequent tests revealed he was over the legal limit for three drug substances.

A blood test recorded 800µg/L of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, in his system. The legal limit is 50µg/L.

A reading of 15µg/L of cocaine itself in his blood was also recorded. The legal limit is 10µg/L.

Tests also recorded at least 2.3µg/L of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, an ingredient of cannabis, in his blood.

The limit for this breakdown product is 2µg/L.

Taking his guilty plea into consideration, magistrates disqualified Ashcombe from driving for 17 months.

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

The defendant was also fined £180 and ordered to pay £120 costs and £72 victim surcharge.

Ashcombe agreed to pay the £372 court penalty in full within 14 days.