A LITTLE NESTON man was caught drug-driving after police had stopped him for having a dirty car number plate.

William Millington, 23, of Rocklee Gardens, was stopped by officers on the M53 motorway on January 14 in his BMW 1 Series.

Prosecuting at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, May 17, Natalie Cassidy said officers could smell cannabis coming from Millington after they approached him.

Millington admitted he had smoked cannabis prior to the journey and gave a positive drugs test.

Officers searched and two small bags of cannabis were found in a box under the driver's seat.

Millington gave a drug reading of 3.1 micrograms of a cannabis derivative per litre of blood, over the legal limit of two.

During interview he admitted the cannabis belonged to him and had smoked that day.

He spent over £500 a month on it and was a regular user.

Millington was of previous good character, Miss Cassidy added.

Defending, Adam Antoskiw said Millington had pleaded guilty and had written to the court to explain he was going to admit the offence.

He had spent six years training to be a qualified fabricator and welder and a driving ban would have a significant effect on him as he wouldn't be able to take the tools required for the job to and from locations.

Mr Antoskiw added: "He simply stopped because one officer could not see his dirty number plate."

Magistrates handed Millington a 14-month driving ban and fined him £120 for drug-driving, plus an £80 fine for possession of cannabis.

The cannabis was to be forfeited and destroyed.