AN ELECTRICIAN claimed to have been caught drug driving three days after consuming cannabis, a court heard.

Mark Brown, 20, of no fixed abode, said he was 'surprised' that a routine drug test came back positive, but was caught again drug driving four days later.

He pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates Court on Tuesday to two counts of drug driving and two counts of failing to surrender to the court.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said that the first incident happened on April 22, just after 1.30am when a police officer saw a black Audi A4 on Ashburton Industrial Estate, Ross-on-Wye.

"The police officer's attention was drawn to the vehicle when he saw it pull out erratically behind his police vehicle," said Ms Ashton.

"He made a decision to stop the vehicle and as he approached smelt a strong smell of cannabis coming out of that vehicle.

"The defendant was asked to provide a drug test and admitted that he had some in his system."

When tested at the police station Brown gave a blood sample which after being analysed had 2.1 micrograms of cannabis, exceeding the limit of two.

Emma Prosser, mitigating said that Brown accepted that he was driving over the limit but didn't know the regulations for drug driving.

She said: "On the first occasion he was driving home from work and hadn't used drugs for three days so was surprised the initial drug test was positive.

"It was only just over the limit and he didn't feel impaired."

Ms Ashton said the second incident happened on April 30, when Brown was driving the same vehicle at 1.30am on Gloucester Road, in Ross-on-Wye.

"A police officer in a marked vehicle decided to stop and search his car," said Ms Ashton.

"The officer felt Brown was under the influence of something as his eyes were glazed. He was asked to provide a drug sample test which was positive."

On the second occasion Brown's blood test had 2.4 micrograms of cannabis.

Ms Prosser said that on this occasion Brown had consumed cannabis 10 hours earlier and was driving to the hospital when stopped by police.

"He injured his wrist at work and couldn't sleep as he was in too much pain so made the decision to go to A&E," said Ms Prosser.

"He felt fine to drive and was devastated to learn about this leading to a driving ban as this will impact his business and colleagues.

"He is a qualified self-employed electrician and has done very well for himself but will have to quit his business for the length of the ban.

"He also employs two assistants aged 17 and 20 who will also lose their employment as they travel to work with him.

"He has no problem with cannabis anymore and has been clean since July.

"The reason he smoked cannabis was because he was suffering from depression and he was advised to do so by his peers who said it was calming."

Brown was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a total of £270.

This comprised of £100 for each driving offence, £20 for each of the failing to surrender offences and a £30 victim surcharge.