A 48-YEAR-OLD man has been banned from the roads and fined after being caught more than six times the drug drive limit in Northwich.

Stuart Dale, of Keepers Lanes in Weaverham, was caught driving an orange VW transporter van on King Street after taking drugs on April 25 of this year.

Chester Magistrates’ Court heard he had 305 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (a cocaine body-breakdown product) per litre of his blood – exceeding the specified limit of 50 micrograms.

Dale pleaded guilty to the offence on October 14.

Taking this into account, magistrates fined him £120, on top of a £120 bill for court costs and a £34 surcharge.

Dale was disqualified from driving for 12 months.