THE driver of a heavily laden light goods vehicle was twice over the drugs drive limit, heard Skipton magistrates.

Police stopped Paul Barker, 26, in the morning of February 23 on the A629 at Kildwick because they suspected his Iveco van full of scrap was over the weight limit, the court heard.

While getting it weighed, officers noticed a smell of cannabis. A drugs test was positive and Barker was taken to the police station for a blood test. It later revealed 4.2 microgrammes of the cannabis derivative (Delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol) in a litre of blood, the legal limit is two.

Barker, who pleaded guilty to drugs driving after initially denying the charge and a date fixed for his trial, said he had smoked cannabis the night before and had set off the next morning thinking he was fine to drive.

Barker, of Greatwood Avenue, Skipton said he had worked for himself and had driven since 17 years old, without any convictions.

He was banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay costs of £200 and a surcharge of £30.