A DRIVER stopped by police on the A65 at Draughton had more than twice the specified limit of cannabis in his system, heard Skipton Magistrates.

Vratislav Pistauer, 28, provided a positive roadside drugs test after police noticed a smell of cannabis and was taken to the police station where a blood test later revealed he had 4.4 microgrammes of cannabis by product, Delta- 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in a litre of blood. The specified limit is two.

Pistauer, of no previous convictions, of Church View, Main Street, Otley, admitted driving on March 13 while over the specified drug limit.

The court heard in mitigation that Pistauer had been on his way to work. He had not recently taken cannabis, and had not realised it would remain in his system for so long.

He was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £276. He will also have to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.