AN out-of-work chef has received a fine and ban after he was caught drug driving and speeding.

Nelson Brown, of Burlington Drive in Prestatyn, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 38-year-old admitted that on May 19 at Caerwys he drove a Mercedes motor vehicle on the A55 when the proportion of cannabis in his blood exceeded the specified limit.

He was found to have not less than 4.1 microgrammes of the drug per litre of blood - the limit being 2.

Brown also admitted that on that occasion he exceeded 70 miles per hour on a dual carriageway.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court that on the day, police were monitoring the speed of vehicles on the A55 at Caerwys.

They spotted a black Mercedes travelling at over 90 miles per hour in the 70 zone, and stopped it on Rhuallt Hill.

The driver, Brown, was spoken to and officers could smell cannabis in the vehicle.

A drug swipe returned a positive result, which led to him being taken to St Asaph custody suite where his blood sampled and analysed.

Bethan Jones, defending, told the court her client accepted he'd had some cannabis a few days before the incident.

"He's not working at the moment," she explained.

"He's a chef by trade, working on the continent."

District Judge Gwyn Jones handed him a fine of £200 for drug driving and another of £100 for speeding.

Brown must also pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.

He was banned from driving for 15 months.