A NEWTOWN man has lost his licence after being arrested for drug driving on the way to work twice in the space of a week – by the same police officer.

Andrew Burton had been smoking cannabis at the time of the offences, in February this year, due to various family stresses, including dealing with the death of his grandfather.

Welshpool Magistrates’ Court this week heard how the factory worker and father-of-two is very highly thought of and had given up the class B drug in the wake of the offences.

Burton, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving when he appeared at court on Tuesday, May 31.

Prosecutor Justin Espie said that Burton, of Orchid Walk, Newtown, was stopped on both occasions, February 22 and 28 – a Tuesday and the following Monday – driving a Vauxhall Vectra; on the first occasion he was stopped on the Dyffryn Industrial Estate and the second time he was pulled over on New Road.

On February 22, Burton produced a reading of 13 micrograms of cannabis in his blood, with 9.1 micrograms the reading six days later – on both occasions he exceeded the legal limit for driving with the drug in your system, which is 2 micrograms.

“He was stopped driving a Vauxhall Vectra on Pool Road, near a recycling centre, on February 22, where the officer stopped him and decided to conduct a drug swipe; he was arrested after that was positive," he said.

“He was put under investigation and while waiting for the result of the first test, on February 28, the officer again was on duty and saw the vehicle, and stopped it again and noted the demeanour of the defendant. Again, a positive drug swipe was recorded and he was arrested.”

It was noted that Burton had been banned for 12 months for drug driving in September 2017.

Paul Inns, acting for Burton, said his client had been cooperative with the police on each occasion.

“He was travelling to work both times when he was stopped,” said Mr Inns.

“He was using cannabis regularly as a coping mechanism. There were various family stresses.

“He felt fine to drive on each occasion and there was nothing to suggest his manner of driving was untoward.

“There is a silver lining as these offences provided the kick he needed to address his behaviour. He sought assistance from Kaleidoscope earlier this month and no longer smokes cannabis.

“He will keep his job. He is thought of very highly by his employers, who’ve handed in a very personal character reference.”

Magistrates ordered Burton to comply with a 12-month community order, which will include 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a formal referral to Kaleidoscope and completing 40 hours’ unpaid work.

He must also pay a £95 surcharge and £85 costs. Magistrates also disqualified him from driving for three years.