A CANNABIS card-carrying crash driver has been banned from the roads after twice refusing to give a sample to police.

Paul Drew entered guilty pleas to two counts of failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford in January.

Police had spotted Drew behind the wheel of a blue Volkswagen Polo in Hereford's Brampton Road at 8.45am on November 22, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

Officers decided to pull Drew over because he was driving with a misted windscreen, and was asked to take a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result for cannabis.

Drew, who showed officers he was carrying a 'Cancard', which is described by its creators as a police-recognised medical ID card and a validated indication to any third-party that the bearer is consuming cannabis for medical reasons, was taken into custody and asked to provide a blood sample for evidential testing but refused.

Police again came across Drew after they were called to a crash near Madley at 8.45am on December 6.

On arrival they found a single vehicle was on its side and spoke to Drew, who was the driver.

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Drew again failed a roadside drug test for cannabis but again refused to give an evidential sample, the court was told.

"The fly in the ointment is that he has a previous conviction from 2015 for driving under the influence of alcohol, for which he was banned," Mr Hambling said.

"It is repeated behaviour for him".

Speaking on his own behalf, 34-year-old Drew said he did have much to add.

"I am unable to work because my back is knackered," he said.

"I did not drive while intoxicated at any time, but I guess that is not going to matter."

Drew, who is of Tenbury Road in Bromyard, was fined £100 and disqualified from driving for 36 months. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a £48 victim surcharge.

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