THE driver of a BMW stopped on the A629 at Kildwick was over the drugs-drive limit, heard Skipton Magistrates' Court.

Zubair Haq, 24, from Bradford, was stopped during a routine check at just after midnight on March 23, the court was told.

A smell of cannabis coming from the car prompted a road side drugs test which proved positive. He was taken to the police station for a blood test which later showed he had seven microgrammes of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit is two.

Haq, a man of previous good character, of Brantwood Oval, Bradford, admitted driving while over the drugs-drive limit.

In mitigation, John Kelly, said there were two others in the car besides Haq and they had smoked cannabis a short while before being stopped by police.

He pointed out being three times over the drugs-drive limit was not the same as being three times over the drink-drive limit and that after a short time at Harrogate Police Station Haq had been released and allowed to drive home.

His car had been bought on hire-purchase and had now been re-possessed by the company, said Mr Kelly.

Haq was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £120. He will also have to pay costs of £85 and surcharge of £30.