A TEENAGER already banned from the roads due to a drink driving offence earlier this year, has now been disqualified for a further three years after she admitted two charges of drug driving.

Rachel Hughes had illegal amounts of cannabis in her system on two occasions within a three-month period; she was first pulled over by police in May and then in August. On both occasions she failed a roadside drug test.

On each occasion, Hughes, 18, was driving a Renault Clio and found to be more than double the drug driving limit.

She admitted two charges of drug driving when she appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, October 4.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said the defendant, of Troed y Garth, Carno, was initially stopped on May 27 driving along the B4538 at Aberhafesp, near Newtown. She failed a roadside test and later provided a reading of 5.1 micrograms of cannabis in her blood.

Then, on August 10, Hughes was pulled over again, this time on the A458 at Welshpool. She again failed a roadside test and, on this occasion, the amount of the drug in her system was 4.2 micrograms. The legal limit for driving with cannabis in your system is 2 micrograms.

MORE NEWS: 

Mrs Tench said of the May offence that Hughes was stopped at around 7.20pm, with PC Hughes noting she “appeared nervous”. “Her eyes were glazed and firm and a small amount of cannabis was found in the vehicle,” she said.

“On August 10 she was again stopped, at around midday, she told the officer she had been smoking that morning.”

Mrs Tench said Hughes had received a 17-month driving ban for drink driving on August 16.

That had related to a string of offences committed on April 24 in Newtown when she had “kicked off” at a police station, kicking one officer in the genital area, after she had been seen driving at speed in the town centre.

Hughes, who was 17 at the time of those offences, pleaded guilty to six charges including possession of cocaine, cannabis, drink driving and assaulting two emergency workers.

Acting for Hughes, Owain Jones said she had not smoked cannabis since these latest two offences.

“She has rid herself of that,” said Mr Jones.

“She was only consuming it because it helped her with depression.”

Mr Jones said that, despite another impeding driving ban, Hughes had retained her job as a forklift driver – her job involves her driving on private land.

“She knows she is likely to get a lengthy driving ban. She has just turned 18, there is a level of immaturity here and she has had to learn a difficult lesson," Mr Jones said.

Probation officer Julian Davies reported that Hughes had been complying with the community order she received in August for the previous offences.

Magistrates handed Hughes an additional three-year road ban for drug driving. She was fined £276 for each offence and must also pay £85 costs and a £55 surcharge. They said they would allow the current community order to continue.