A DRIVER who had a high proportion of cocaine in his system while behind the wheel is to be sentenced next month.

Andrew Stuchbery, of Bridge Street, Leominster, pleaded guilty to drug driving after he was caught on the B4361 in Luston on November 20, 2022. 

Hereford Magistrates Court heard that the 30-year-old was driving a Suzuki Ignis VRM on when he had 32 micrograms of cocaine in his blood per litre of blood. The legal limit is 10ug. 

Stuchbery also admitted to having 800mg of Benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine, in his blood - a massive 16 times more than the legal limit of 50ug.

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The court also heard that Stuchbery did not have insurance to drive the vehicle, and did so while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence. 

This is not the first time that Stuchbery has driven a car while high on cocaine. 

He also admitted to having 55 ug/l in his blood while driving a Peugeot 5008 on Bridge Street on May 30, 2021, as well as 800 u/g of Benzoylecgonine. A total of  of 3.1 ug/l of Delta-9-tetrahyrocannabinol, a metabolite of cannabis, was also in his blood - higher than the legal limit of 2ug.

Again, he had no licence or insurance to drive the car. 

Stuchbery, who was represented by Marilena di Vitantonio, was given unconditional bail to appear back at Hereford Magistrates' Court on August 15.