A MAN caught driving while nearly three times the legal drug-drive limit for cocaine has been banned.

Matthew Woolston was stopped in Meadow Way in Jaywick and a roadside test revealed he had 29 mcgs of cocaine in his blood. The legal limit is ten.

Tests also found 677 mcgs of benzoylecgonine, a by-product of cocaine, in his system - 13 times the legal limit of 50 mcgs per litre of blood.

Woolston, 38,of Essex Avenue, Jaywick, committed the offences in December when he was also charged with driving his Ford KA without insurance.

He admitted all three charges.

Woolston told Colchester magistrates’ he was unaware the vehicle was not insured at the time.

Speaking about his cocaine use, he said: “On the day of driving I know the cocaine was in my system but I didn’t take it on the day because I was told it stays in your system for seven days.

“It was two days before that I took the substance.”

The court heard Woolston was subject to a community order for which he was re-sentenced and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

Woolston was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £120 plus £85 in court costs.