A DRIVER from Worcester was six and a half times over the drug drive limit for cocaine and 16 times over the limit for a cocaine metabolite.

Lee Raymond of Borrowdale Drive, Worcester, appeared before city magistrates on Thursday, pleading guilty to two offences.

The 41-year-old admitted drug driving on April 7 this year in Worcester. He was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Corsa in Crickley Drive at the time.

A test revealed 65 microgrammes of cocaine per litre of blood - six and a half times the limit of 10 microgrammes. He was also found to have 800 microgrammes per litre of blood of the cocaine metabolite Benzoylecgonine or BZE - 16 times the limit. The limit is not zero, despite cocaine being illegal, to rule out any claims of accidental exposure.

He was fined £240, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £34 and costs of £135. This will be consolidated with his existing court debts.

Raymond was disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. No action was taken against him for breaching a conditional discharge imposed for possession of drugs.