A MIDDLEWICH man has been banned from driving after getting behind the wheel while on cocaine and cannabis.

Tony Whitehead, of Kitfield Avenue, was caught on June 30 last year while driving a Peugeot 207 along Station Road in Holmes Chapel.

Subsequent blood tests revealed the 41-year-old had 800µg/L of Benzoylecgonine (a cocaine breakdown product) in his system - 16 times the legal limit of 50µg/L.

The tests also showed he had 32µg/L of cocaine itself, and 3.3µg/L of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (a component of cannabis), in his blood.

These levels were also above the respective limits of 10µg/L (cocaine) and 2µg/L (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).

Whitehead appeared at Crewe Magistrates Court on January 23 where he pleaded guilty to three counts of drug-driving.

Taking his admission into account, the bench disqualified him from driving for three years and handed him a 12-month community order.

Whitehead must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and up to 10 days of rehabilitation activity.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £120 and a surcharge of £114.