A TEENAGE driver was caught in a busy Hereford main road after taking three different drugs at a Halloween party.

Archie Orlando Lewis admitted four counts of drug-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The 18-year-old was stopped behind the wheel of a Suzuki Ignis in Hereford's Belmont Road at 11pm on November 1, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

Officers suspected he was under the influence of drugs and he was arrested after failing a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result for cocaine.

An evidential blood test taken in custody revealed he had 43 microgrammes of cocaine, 367 microgrammes of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine, 54 microgrammes of MDMA, and 125 microgrammes of ketamine per litre of blood. The respective legal limits are 10, 50, 10, and 20 microgrammes.

OTHER NEWS:

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Lewis, said the teenager had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

"He tells me he had taken those drugs at a Halloween party the day before, and thought there would be no issue with his driving the next day," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"There was no recorded problem with his driving and he tells me he does not take drugs regularly, but did at that party.

"He has since undergone testing by his employer. That has been negative, and I would ask you to consider that."

The court heard Lewis will be able to continue in his job despite a mandatory roads ban.

Lewis, of Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire, was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £450. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £45 victim surcharge.