A young man found to be 56 times over the drug-drive limit has been banned from driving for 18 months.

Ryan Yates, 26, was stopped while driving a Mercedes C class coupe at Saltney in February.

A court was told that Yates, of Roughlyn Crescent, Marsden cum Lache, Chester, provided a positive drugs test and was arrested.

At Wrexham police station a blood test showed that he had 2,850 milligrammes of a metabolism of cocaine compared to the legal limit of 50.

His cocaine reading was 244 compared to the legal limit of ten and his level of cannabis was ten compared to the legal limit of two.

At Flintshire Magistrates’ Court (on Monday) he was banned from driving for 18 months, and placed on a 12 month community order.

He must carry out 150 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £620.

The defendant was stopped at midnight on March 23 because it was alleged he was speeding.

But the police noticed his eyes were dilated – and one was bigger than the other.

Yates, who represented himself, pleaded not guilty to all three charges and said he believed that the blood sample taken was illegal.

He said that the nurse failed to get blood the first time, took two mils the second time and then took a third sample which he had been told was illegal.

But he agreed that he did not have an authority to back up his claims.

Yates said that he had paid solicitors to prepare his case but he had been unable to pay a further bill and they no longer represented him.

He was convicted.