A FESTIVAL worker has branded magistrates 'fascists' after he was handed a roads ban for drug-driving in Herefordshire.

Ross Monaghan admitted drug-driving when he appeared before Hereford magistrates by videolink.

The 38-year-old had been caught behind the wheel of a red Vauxhall Astra on the A44 near Leominster on October 23.

Police stopped him to speak to him, and he was arrested after a roadside drug test returned a positive result for cannabis.

An evidential blood test in custody revealed he had 3.7 microgrammes of cannabis metabolite delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The legal limit is two.

Speaking on his own behalf, Monaghan said he really did not have any argument against the charge.

"I would like to tell the court that I am not in work at the moment as I work in festivals. I am living off donations and I am not on benefits while I am out of work," he said.

"I suffer from bipolar and I self-medicate with cannabis, but unfortunately there's no scientific evidence to back up my case with that."

Monaghan, who is of no fixed address, told magistrates they were fascists after learning he would be disqualified from driving for 12 months and must pay a fine of £120 and a £34 victim surcharge, and said he would be unable to pay the £5 a week rate set.