A DRUG driving builder who was high on cocaine after a break-up has been banned from driving.

Matthew Leedham had both cocaine and a metabolite of cocaine (BZE) in his body when he was pulled over by police.

The 23-year-old of Maple Grove, Droitwich, appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday where he admitted two charges of driving with a specified controlled drug in his blood in Meadow Road, Droitwich on October 8 last year.

He had 400 micrograms of benzoylecgonine (BZE) per litre of blood - eight times the limit of 50 micrograms. Tests also revealed 25 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood, two and a half times the limit of 10 micrograms.

Mark Cooper, prosecuting, said the defendant was behind the wheel of a Fiat Scudo at around 10pm. When police stopped him they 'suspected he had either consumed drink or drugs'. However, a roadside test revealed no alcohol in his system though he tested positive for cocaine and he was taken into custody.

The court heard that there were no other aggravating features to the case and Leedham was of previous good character. His solicitor said the circumstances were 'unfortunate' and he had broken up with his girlfriend at the time. Magistrates gave him credit for pleading guilty at the first available opportunity. They fined him £360, ordered him to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £36 for drug driving (cocaine). In passing sentence they made no separate penalty for the BZE offence which is a metabolite of cocaine.

They banned him from driving for 12 months which he was told begins immediately. He offered to pay off his fines and costs at a rate of £50 per month which was accepted by the court.

A fines collection order was also made, giving the court extra powers to collect the outstanding money.