A Milford motorist has been banned from driving for 12 months after admitting getting behind the wheel of his car with cannabis in his system.
Forty-year-old Damian John Potter, of Nubian Crescent, Hakin, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving his Vauxhall Astra, with 3.5 ug/L of cannabis in his blood, exceeding the specified limit, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told magistrates that shortly before 9.30 pm, on May 22, a police officer on duty on Fishguard Road in Haverfordwest, pulled Mr. Potter over for motoring offences.
“The officer could instantly smell cannabis, and the defendant admitted that he had smoked it recently. A saliva test proved positive and Mr. Potter was arrested and taken to the police station,” explained Ms Morgan.
Defence solicitor Stacey Holmes told the court that Mr. Potter had smoked a joint of cannabis before entering his car to collect a friend from work.
“He has used cannabis for 30 years, but no longer smokes it. Unfortunately, losing his licence today will mean he will lose his job,” she said.
Magistrates disqualified Mr. Potter from driving for 12 months and fined him £80 for the offence.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.