A NESTON motorist stopped by police officers in Chester for not having his headlights on told them he had taken cocaine.

Harry George Dodd, 25, of Shakespeare Road, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, September 20 to two charges of drug-driving.

He was handed a 12-month driving ban in what chair of magistrates Maurice McBride called "a very sad and sorry state of affairs".

Prosecuting, Adam Warner said it was just after midnight on April 12 when Dodd was stopped in his Vauxhall Astra on Greyhound Park Road next to McDonald's for not having his lights on.

He was breathalysed and gave a reading of zero, but he admitted to police he had taken cocaine a few days prior.

A drug test was positive and Dodd was arrested.

He was found to have three times the legal limit of cocaine in his body as well as twice the limit of cocaine derivative benzoylecgonine.

Dodd had been on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence, which had expired by the time Dodd appeared in court

Defending, Adrian Evans said it was "very rare" that somebody on a suspended sentence still had a success story.

He explained: "He has made great strides in his life. He had a drug issue and this was a one-off – two days before he had taken cocaine.

"There is no tolerance on this offence now, the underlying factor is you should not be taking drugs.

"You can see how much he regrets it. He said 'I did some cocaine'. There are no similar matters on his record.

"He now has a stable partner and a stable address. There was a community element during the suspended sentence order which he has complied with and did very well.

"He still involves himself in the mental health team. He has addressed his cocaine addiction and is now clean.

"He has become a dad and he tells me 'The past is now behind me, I am now a family man'.

"The probation service would say it would be 'unjust' to activate the suspended sentence."

The court also heard there had been no breaches of the community order element of the suspended sentence.

Chair of magistrates Maurice McBride told a tearful Dodd: "This is a very sorry and sad state of affairs, but you will not be going to custody.

"We take on board that you are turning your life around and we commend you for that, but illegal drugs are illegal for a reason. We have seen cases where drug-drivers are seriously injured."

As well as the ban, Dodd was fined a total of £190, plus £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.