A MAN who had traces of cocaine in his blood has been banned from driving for a year.

Luke Alexanda Richardson, of Fountains Close, Popley, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates on October 15 pleading guilty to one count of driving while under the influence of drugs.

The court heard how the police stopped the 33-year-old on April 27, 2019, as he approached the M3 roundabout at junction 6 under the suspicion that Richardson had drugs in his system.

When asked to do a roadside breath test it showed that he had an amount of Benzoylecgonine – a substance that is found in cocaine – above the legal limit.

The court heard that Richardson had not been driving dangerously, it was just a routine stop by the police when the 33-year-old was heading to a birthday party in Winchester.

Magistrates fined him £402 and ordered him to pay £40 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

He was also banned from driving for one year.