A man who "foolishly" turned to drugs while out of prison on licence as a way of escapism made things "10 times worse" – and is now back in jail.

David Brown, 38, was caught drug driving between Welshpool and the Sylfaen straight near Castle Caereinion.

Welshpool Magistrates' Court was told that Brown, who was also found with a small amount of cannabis, had a passenger inside the Volvo S60 car when police stopped him shortly before 9pm on June 9 this year.

A blood test found he was driving with almost 16 times the legal limit for Benzoylecgonine and more than six times for cocaine.

Brown, of Little Weston, near Montgomery, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving and possession of 0.2g of cannabis when he appeared in court on Tuesday (November 1) through a videolink from HMP Berwyn, near Wrexham.

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Magistrates' jailed him for eight months which will run alongside the prison sentence he is currently serving, and disqualified him from driving for 26 months.

Owain Jones, acting for Brown, said the 38-year-old had been caring for his unwell father at the time of the offences.

"He tells me he was released on licence then his father fell ill, and he had a stroke and foolishly turned to drugs as a way of escapism," Mr Jones said. "He says he acknowledges that it made things 10 times worse.

"He regrets being recalled and no longer able to help his father who is now in a bad way."

Mr Jones added: "All I can say he is sorry, and he is engaging with agencies within the prison to rehabilitate and reduce drug intake consumption. I ask that you impose credit for his early guilty pleas."

Stephen Pembroke, chair of the magistrates' bench, told Brown during sentencing: "There are many aggravating factors in this case including that you had a passenger inside the vehicle and two drugs in your system which I’m sure you will understand."

The 38-year-old must serve four months in prison for each offence and pay a £154 victim surcharge when he is released from prison. Brown was told his driving ban will end on December 31, 2024.