A SILSDEN driver stopped by police twice within a month with up to four times the specified amount of drugs in his system, has been banned from driving for three years.

Joshua Powell, 24, had both cocaine and its derivative benzoylecgonine in his system when he was stopped twice in Skipton in July, magistrates heard on Friday.

Police noticed Powell after he clipped the kerb in Bennet Street with his Volkswagen Golf at 1.45am on July 9.

A roadside drugs 'swipe' test was positive and he was taken to Harrogate Police Station for a blood test. It later showed he had 22 microgrammes of cocaine in a litre of blood – the specified limit is ten – and 200 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine; the specified limit is 50.

Police again saw Powell on July 28, this time slumped in his car at 3.30am at Tesco petrol station, followed him and stopped him in Keighley Road. He had 17 microgrammes of cocaine and 200 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine in his system at the time.

Powell, who admitted four counts of drugs-driving, had started having problems while still at school, first taking cannabis and then heroin, the court heard.

In mitigation, Keith Blackwell said Powell had sought help with his addiction at Project Six in Keighley. Powell, he added, is very contrite and remorseful and had co-operated fully with police at the time.

Powell, of East Dene in Silsden, was handed two three-year driving bans to run at the same time. He was also given a 12-month community order with up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a six-week curfew, from 8pm to 5am, which will end on October 27. He will also have to pay costs of £170 and an £85 surcharge.