A MAN has lost his licence after he was caught behind the wheel while over three times the legal drug driving limit.

Ross Coates, of Longpool, Kendal, was driving his BMW X5 on the A590 when officers on mobile patrol noticed the vehicle was evading them, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said police in a marked car pulled the vehicle over on Nannypie Lane on May 20 this year.  

Mr Dacre said Coates was fully compliant with conducting a roadside DrugWipe which came back positive for Benzoyclecgonine – the derivative of cocaine.

As a result, the 28-year-old defendant was arrested and taken to Kendal Police Station where he was required to provide a specimen of blood for analysis.

The reading showed Coates had 156 mg/L of the drug in his system at the time. The legal ‘zero tolerance’ limit is 50 mg/L.

Representing the defendant, solicitor Lindsey Oldham said: “He tells me there was black smoke coming out of his vehicle which may be why he was described as evading the police.

“He is currently on universal credit but started a landscaping job last week which now might be at risk.”

Magistrates fined Coates £120 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £48 surcharge at a rate of £20 per month.