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

John Lynn, of Longridge, Knutsford, admitted drug-driving at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on September 26.

The 33-year-old was driving a Vauxhall Meriva on Chelford Road on July 24, this year, when he was stopped by the police.

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

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

The legal limit is 50µg/L.

Tests also recorded at least 2.4µg/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 Lynn 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 £85 costs and £72 victim surcharge.

Magistrates granted Lynn permission to pay the £337 court penalty at a rate of £5 per week starting on October 24.