POLICE who carried out a stop-check on a car in Chester saw a "plume of smoke" from the driver's nearside window.

When they went to speak to the driver, they saw a young man "with pasty skin and nervous reactions", Chester Magistrates Court heard on Friday (August 17).

Connor Randles, 22, of Hatton Road, Blacon, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and driving without a licence or insurance.

He was handed an 18-month driving ban and fined a total of £300.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds said it was at 6.50pm when police were on patrol and carried the check on the Hyundai Randles had been driving on St Chad's Road, Blacon.

Police described the driver as having "pasty skin and nervous reactions".

When stopped, Randles said he had taken cannabis "half an hour ago".

He added he had just bought the vehicle for £200 and had a provisional licence.

Randles had two previous convictions for dissimilar matters and had not been in court since 2013, when he was a youth.

Defending, Joe Bleasdale said: "Up until about a week ago, Mr Randles said he had a cannabis problem, but now he has a job and has cut down significantly the amount of cannabis he takes."

He was helping a friend move from A to B, less than a mile, when he was stopped.

His boss at the new job was aware of the offence.

Randles was fined £250 for the drug-driving and £50 for driving without insurance. In addition, he must pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.