A ROOFER "had no idea" he would be over the limit when he was caught on the roads in Hereford, a court has heard.

Jordan Ashley Ireland admitted drug-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police had spotted his Volkswagen Golf heading towards the city centre just before midnight on November 5, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

He was pulled over for motoring matters, but as officers spoke to him they became suspicious and asked him to undertake a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result.

Ireland was arrested and taken into custody, where an evidential breath test revealed he had 4.8 microgrammes of cannabis metabolite delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The legal limit is two.

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Chris Read, for Ireland, said the 25-year-old had bought his car less than 24 hours before he was stopped and that while he had insured it, it was not yet showing as insured on the police computer.

"He says he had no idea he would be over the limit and had last used it two days before," Mr Read said.

"This is going to have a serious impact, as he is a self-employed roofer. He hopes to be able to keep working, but that is to be seen. His finances will only deteriorate."

Ireland, of Dinglewell, Hucclecote, was fined £394 and disqualified from driving for 12 months. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.