A PLANT operator has been banned from the roads after he was caught drug-driving for the second time.

Joel Davies admitted two counts of drug-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police in an unmarked car had spotted Davies behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf in The Homend in Ledbury at 10.10am on April 5, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

He was asked to take a roadside drug test and arrested after it returned a positive result for cannabis and cocaine.

An evidential blood test in custody revealed he had 800 microgrammes of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine and 4.1 microgrammes of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The respective legal limits are 50 and two.

"There were two drugs, which aggravates the matter, and previous convictions, including one for a similar offence in 2019," Mr Hambling said.

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Philip Cornell, for Davies, said the 21-year-old plant operator, who he said drives rollers, excavators, and tippers for a living, had previously been convicted for drug-driving.

"He tells me there was a crash on that occasion," Mr Cornell said, noting that magistrates might be minded to think there was a pattern.

"But he has pleaded guilty and knows he will be disqualified. He just has this work hard, play hard problem, and it has not quite sunk in that some drugs stay in the body for a long time."

Mr Cornell said Davies will be able to continue working and has informed his employer of the situation.

Davies, of Bedwellty Road, Bargoed, was fined £800 and disqualified from driving for three years. He must also pay costs of £135 and an £80 victim surcharge.

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