AN ARMY hopeful has been banned from the roads after he was caught behind the wheel while over the drug limit.

Adam Criddle admitted drug-driving and driving without a licence or insurance when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The 22-year-old had been driving a Volkswagen Golf when he was caught on the A40 at Hildersley at 12.30pm on August 24, prosecutor Elizabeth Blacklock told the court.

Officers, who said they had seen Criddle getting into the passenger seat from the driver's seat of the car, was asked to take a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result, while further checks revealed his driving licence was expired and he was not insured.

An evidential blood test revealed he had 6.9 microgrammes of cannabis metabolite delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The legal limit is two.

George Cousins, for Criddle, said he had come to court on his birthday to enter a guilty plea.

"He tells me that he has not had a life anyone would envy," Mr Cousins said.

"He spent a lot of his childhood in care and had not spoken to his family for two years, but bridges are now being mended and he accepts he has made some foolish decisions during those two years.

"He wanted to join the army at 16, but his mum refused to sign the consent form. He is now old enough to do this himself."

The court heard Criddle accepted he had taken drugs at some point before driving and that he does now have support.

Criddle, of Symonds Yat, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £91. He must also pay costs of £85 and a £34 victim surcharge.

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