AN Aberystwyth man found driving with cannabis and cocaine in his system has been banned from driving for 16 months.

Daniel Jay Turpin admitted having over the permitted level of the two drugs in his system when he was stopped by police on 30 August.

He also admitted driving without insurance and failing to surrender to bail, after not appearing in court on 26 October when he was initially due to answer the charges.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said police stopped Turpin while he was driving on the A487 after hearing a loud noise coming from his vehicle.

Officers smelt cannabis, but Turpin, who was driving the car, said his passenger had been smoking cannabis, but he had not. A search did not discover any drugs.

However, a roadside test showed that Turpin had both cannabis and cocaine in his system. Blood tests showed that Turpin, of 28 Heol Dinas in Penparcau, had over the permitted limit of the drugs.

Defence solicitor Iestyn Davies said that while both drugs were illegal, permitted levels were in place because certain drugs could be included in medication, occur naturally or be taken legally in some other countries.

While alcohol limits were reliable, as alcohol left the system relatively quickly, Mr Davies said that is not the case for many drugs, meaning people who used the drug weeks previously could find they would be over the specified limit.

Mr Davies said Turpin had thought he was insured.

Turpin will have to pay a fine totalling £360 and costs of £115.