A DRUG driver who caused a three car crash on the M5 has been banned from the road for 14 months.

Oliver Hughes admitted drug driving when he was returning home from a party where he had taken cannabis, when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court last month.

Prosecuting Kerry Lovegrove said the 20-year-old was driving a Peugeot 306 on the motorway, southbound between Junction 7 and 8, but was driving too close to the vehicle in front of him, causing the driver to spin and hit a broken down vehicle on the hard shoulder.

Miss Lovegrove said other parties were injured as a result of the crash. which happened at around 11am on February 8.

Officers asked Hughes to take a roadside drug test which he failed, so he was arrested and taken to the station where he gave a blood sample.

This was tested and showed he had a reading of 308mcg per litre of blood of cocaine, above the legal limit of 50mcg.

Miss Lovegrove added that magistrates should see the crash as the aggravating factor, when considering their punishment.

Defending Katherine Maynereid said Hughes, of Mendip Close, Cheltenham, took the cannabis at the party and drove the next morning, as he felt fine.

"It was a stupid, foolish mistake - it was out of character," she said.

"This is the first time he has ever been in any trouble. He is remorseful.

"He knows he will be disqualified from driving."

She added the stock registrar was carrying no passengers at the time, and appealed for the ban to kept as low as possible.

Magistrates disqualified Hughes from driving for 14 months, and fined him £270. He was also ordered to pay costs of £135, and a victim surcharge of £30 - a total of £435.

Magistrates opted not to offer Hughes the drink drive awareness course.