A FIRST-time drug-taker will lose her job after she was caught out on the roads in Hereford, a court has heard.

Claire Jones admitted one count of drug-driving when she appeared before magistrates in Hereford in November.

Police had spotted Jones behind the wheel of a black Audi A3 on the A49 Holmer Road in Hereford on June 18, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

She was pulled over and was spoken to by officers before being asked to take a roadside drug swab test, which returned a positive result.

Jones was arrested and taken to Hereford police station, where an evidential blood test revealed she had more than 800 microgrammes of controlled class A drug cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50 microgrammes.

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Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Jones, said the 34-year-old had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had cooperated with police throughout.

"She tells me she had been our with friends and had gone to a house party, where she took cocaine," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"She has never done this in her life and does not wish to repeat it. She knows she will now be banned for a minimum of 12 months and she will no longer be employed following her conviction today, as she will definitely lose her job as a result."

Jones, who is of Fakenham Drive, Hereford, was fined £120 and disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a £48 victim surcharge.

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