A DRUG-driver caught on his way to get an early-hours takeaway had been pressured to drive by his girlfriend, a court has been told.

Harry George William Bowers entered a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford on January 6.

The 20-year-old had been driving a Ford Fiesta in Herefordshire's Commercial Road when he was pulled over in a routine stop by police at 2.10am on August 11, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

But officers were concerned about his demeanour and asked him to carry out a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result.

Bowers was arrested and taken to Hereford Police Station, where an evidential test revealed he had 176 microgrammes of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50.

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Chris Read, for Bowers, said he had previously been convicted for a similar matter in 2018 but had modified his behaviour since then.

"He had tried to be careful to avoid that situation again," Mr Read said.

"He admits that he had taken the drug, but says that it had been more than 24 hours before driving to get a takeaway with his then partner. He said he was pressured to drive by her, but accepts the responsibility is his."

The court heard Bowers, who is employed by NHS Test and Trace on a temporary basis, was unsure whether his position will be continued.

Magistrates told Bowers it was sad that it was his second offence in such a short time.

Bowers, of Abbotsmead Road, Belmont, was disqualified from driving for three years and fined £120. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.