Chester Magistrates Court to sentence Wrexham drug driver

Darren Peach, 38, of Hampden Road, pleaded guilty to three counts of driving above the legal limit for drugs at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday. It relates to an incident on December 25 last year when officers on patrol along the motorway spotted the defendant 'driving at excess speed'. Tony Carey, prosecuting, added that he left the motorway at Stoak Interchange in his Citroen Berlingo van and was followed by police.

He added: "He was pulled over and gave a positive reading for cocaine and cannabis and was arrested for drug driving, complying throughout." Accroding to the charges, Peach had 24mcg per litre of blood for cocaine - 2.4 times the legal limit - as well as 483mcg of benzoecgonine (cocaine breakdown) and 5.7mcg of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis). OTHER NEWS:

Mr Carey added that Peach has previous convictions for possession with intent to supply and placed in higher harm because he was committing motoring offences at the same time. Michael Gray, defending, highlighted the defendant's guilty plea at the first opportunity. He added: "He has brought multiple character references and an explanation of the impact of a driving ban on him and others that he supports.

"He admits there were multiple drugs in the system which does aggravate the offence, but he hasn't sought to delay proceedings and has entered early guilty pleas. "He has ceased to be a window cleaner and is now a labourer so can pay a court fine." Mr Gray added that while speed was an aggravating feature, there does not seem to be another motoring offence such as a collision.

Magistrates ordered an all-options pre-sentence report and issued Peach with an interim driving ban.

He will be sentenced on Monday, June 1.