A drug driver has been told that he has a "lot of growing up to do" after a court disqualified him for three years.

Kieran Bradshaw, 24, admitted to police that he had recently smoked cannabis after his friend's Mercedes car was pulled along the A483 near Abermule on May 22.

A blood sample was analysed for Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a metabolite of cannabis, which found that he had 3.6 micrograms when the legal limit is 2mcgms.

Bradshaw was given a suspended sentence in June after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance and using a car with tyres with insufficient tread for the same incident. The court was told that he was serving a 42-month driving ban at the time after previously breaching a 12-month ban.

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Prosecutor James Ashton told Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, July 30, that he was "unsure why the matters were separated" from Bradshaw’s previous appearance in court.

Glenn Cook, acting on behalf of Bradshaw, told the magistrates that the 24-year-old was motivated to "change his life around" since his conviction in June.

"It is unfortunate that neither of us know why it wasn’t dealt together as it should have been on the last occasion," the solicitor said.

"Clearly had it been dealt on the same day; it would have not made a material difference to the decision of the court on the same occasion.

"He tells me he has now stopped taking cannabis. He was recently on a family holiday to Dubai. He had not been smoking out there and it was an opportunity for him to stop completely. He’s not smoking at all not even cigarettes let alone cannabis.

"He wants to change his life around. He tells me is starting a new business where he wants to buy and sell watches, particularly Rolex. It’s a very start-up business.

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"He’s being supported by his family to turn his life around. There was clearly a drug problem with cannabis use in the past. They are supportive of him. He’s developing his business brand. He’s supported financially by family.

"I invite you to impose a financial penalty bearing in mind that had it been dealt with on the 4th of June it would not have made a material difference on that occasion.

"This is a young man who wants to turn his life around. It would be unjust in this case to activate a suspended sentence order because technically he is in breach of that today.

"He knows he has to serve that disqualification and do what he can to get his licence back at the appropriate time."

Bradshaw, of Broadway, Ketley, Telford, was disqualified for 36 months, and ordered to pay a £120 fine, £48 victim surcharge and £85 court costs after pleading guilty to drug driving.

He told Sarah Sargent, chair of the magistrates' bench, that he was "grateful" after she told him that they were unable to activate the suspended sentence.

Mrs Sargent said: "It’s a part of that picture and you growing into your adult years and taking responsibility for your actions.

"It’s how you make those decisions and not relying on others to support you.

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"It’s about how much work you put in with probation which will be pivotal in our life in the next few years.

"There is support for you out there."

The chair added: "An awful lot has happened in the last few months and a lot of growing up to do. The cannabis has not helped your brain development, I can tell you that.

“We wish you well going forward. We do not wish to see you again in this court in the future."