A DRUG driver has been handed a community order after he was above the legal limit in Hereford.

Jack Randell, of St Owen Street, Hereford, had 5.1 micrograms of Delta-9-Tetrahyrocannibol and 68 micrograms of Benzoylecgonine per 100 millilitres of blood in his system when his Vauxhall Corsa was stopped in Ledbury Road on October 5, 2023. 

The former is the main cannabinoid of cannabis, while the latter is the major metabolite of cocaine. The legal limit for both is 2u/gl and 50u/gl respectively. 

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Lauren Millichip, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates Court, said the 35-year-old smelt of cannabis when police officers stopped his car at 2.30pm. 

A roadside test was positive, so Randell was arrested and taken to Hereford Police Station where further samples were taken. 

Representing himself, Randell, who pleaded guilty to two counts of driving under the influence of drugs, said he was helping a mentally ill friend who needed to return his items from his property after 'an extremely violent attack on him'.

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"At the time, I felt I was capable of driving the vehicle responsibly," said Randell.

"I achieved that before I was pulled over just before I was going to fill up the gas tank. It [the drugs] was in my system because of activities with said person to help his anxiety attacks."

Randell told the court he is not employed but busks on the streets as a music artist, with his available for people to stream for free online. 

Randell was handed an 18-month community order, which requires him to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months, fined £50 and has to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £114 respectively.