A DRUG-driver told police he had smoked cannabis for a number of years, a court has heard.

Nathan Powell, who did not attend court on the day, entered a guilty plea through his solicitor.

Powell had been stopped behind the wheel of his Nissan Juke in Belmont Road just before 2pm on November 3, prosecutor Ralph Robyns Landricombe said.

Police asked him to take a roadside drug test, and he was arrested after it returned a positive result.

An evidential test in custody revealed he had 16 microgrammes of cannabis metabolite delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood, eight times the legal limit of two.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Powell, said the 31-year-old had been stopped in a routine check.

"There are no aggravating features in this matter," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"He says he told police he has smoked cannabis for various reasons for a number of years and that it would be in his blood anyway."

Powell, of Belmont Road, Hereford, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £161. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.