A DRUG driver got behind the wheel whilst being a staggering 55 times over the legal limit.

William Anthony Brazington, 23, from Bosbury, admitted taking cocaine before pulling over whilst being followed by police on Parkway, Ledbury.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, said that at 1am on October 16, police saw a grey Citroen C3 which they followed before carrying out a routine stop and check search on.

"Officers spoke to the defendant and felt a strong smell of cannabis was coming from the car," said Mr Jones.

"A roadside drug test was positive for cocaine."

Brazington had 2,793 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood, the legal limit for the substance - a main metabolite of cocaine is 50.

He also had 183 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood in her system - the legal limit is 10.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, mitigating, said that Brazington admitted to taking cocaine prior to driving.

She added: "He has had a difficult personal life which doesn't excuse his behaviour.

"He took it to try and stop himself thinking about his issues, but has accepted it was a stupid thing to do.

"He will now not be able to work as a self-employed tractor driver as he has to use public roads."

Magistrates disqualified Brazington from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £110 fine, £135 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.