A man who uses cannabis for pain relief has been banned from driving after he was caught behind the wheel while three times the legal limit for the Class B drug.

Peter Exton admitted in court that he was driving a Volkswagen Sirocco along the A483 between Llanymynech and Four Crosses on August 15 while under the influence of cannabis.

The court heard he was “extremely nervous and on edge” when he was stopped by police on the A483 near a roundabout close to Four Crosses.

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The 46-year-old from Guilsfield was given a 12-month driving ban and ordered to pay £582 in court costs and fines when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, December 20.

Suzanna Cartwright, prosecuting, told the court: "It was approximately 8pm when Mr Exton was seen driving on the A483 between Llanymynech and Four Crosses. Mr Exton was stopped just off the roundabout by Four Crosses and there was a strong smell coming from the car and Mr Exton was extremely nervous and on edge. Officers noted that his eyes were glazed. A roadside drug wipe indicted a positive result for cannabis."

A blood test revealed he had six micrograms of cannabis metabolite delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, per litre of blood. The legal limit is two.

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Paul Inns, mitigating, said to the magistrates' bench: "There’s no allegation or suggestion of his driving standard. The circumstances were that he had used cannabis earlier that day which he uses for pain relief and anxiety relief. He suffered fairly significant injuries some years ago. Mr Exton said he felt fine to drive and didn’t believe he was over the limit at the time.

"In his own words he’s very sorry for his actions."

Exton, of Breidden Way, Guilsfield was given a 12-month mandatory driving disqualification and ordered to pay a £355 fine, £142 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

Magistrates' bench chair Nicolas Powell said: "If you do drive it does become quite serious."

Exton replied: "I do understand. I’m very sorry about the offence, sir."