A MAN caught driving with four times the legal limit of cocaine in his blood has been banned from the wheel.

Anthony Glen, of Thompson Street West, Darlington, was stopped in the town just after 10.15pm by police who wanted to investigate his vehicle's loud exhaust.

Officers noticed a smell of cannabis and the 30-year-old was arrested and taken to the police station following a positive drug swipe.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday heard a test revealed the 30-year-old had more than 200 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, per litre of blood - the legal limit being 50.

Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said the defendant initially pleaded not guilty to the offence as he had no recollection of taking cocaine but had since spoken to friends who confirmed he had taken the drug.

Having pleaded guilty to the offence committed on November 2, the mechanic was disqualified from driving for three years.

He was also fined £162, ordered to pay £250 prosecution costs, a £35 victim surcharge and fined £10 for breaching a suspended sentence order.