A LABOURER was six time the drug limit when he was caught behind the wheel in a busy Hereford street.

Stephen Wood admitted drug-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police had spotted Wood driving in Hereford's Grandstand Road at 5.40pm on March 8, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock said.

They decided to follow him before pulling him over at the roadside, where he admitted recently using drugs.

Wood was arrested and taken into custody after failing a roadside drug test. An evidential blood test revealed he had 93 microgrammes of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine and 12 microgrammes of cannabis metabolite delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The respective legal limits are 50 and two.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Wood, said the 36-year-old had voluntarily admitted his drug use to police when he was stopped.

"There is no mention as to why he was stopped, and there is no evidence that it was due to his driving" Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"He has taken steps since that time as it is clear drugs were an issue. He tells me he had used cannabis four hours before driving and cocaine about two nights before.

"He says he was using them recreationally, but that has now stopped."

The court heard the self-employed labourer said he had since sold his car for £50 to an ex partner and hoped to be able to carry on working through a mandatory driving ban.

Wood, of Mortimer Road, Hereford, was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £276. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.