A DRIVER has been banned from the roads after failing a drug test in a routine traffic stop in Herefordshire.

Rhys Alan Cox admitted the offence appearing before Hereford magistrates on August 5.

John Dove, prosecuting, said police were on patrol on the B4349 at Clehonger on March 2 when they saw Cox drive past in a blue Kia Rio.

Officers decided to carry out a routine traffic stop and performed a roadside drug test, which Cox, who is from Southey Street, Barry, failed.

The 34-year-old was arrested and taken to Hereford police station, where a blood test revealed he had 3.6 microgrammes of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2.

Chris Read, for Cox, said he had not realised how long cannabis would stay in his system.

“He and his partner had been visiting relatives in the Herefordshire and Brecon area, and he had smoked cannabis at about 10am that day,” Mr Read said.

“He felt that he should not drive during the day, so his partner drove. But by the time they were seen by police, he felt enough time had passed that it would be safe for him to drive.

“It was a lack of knowledge rather than an attempt to flout the law, and there was no criticism of his driving, as it was just a routine stop.”

Cox was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £175. He was ordered to pay costs of £135 and a £32 victim surcharge.