THREE drivers from Northwich have been banned from the road after they got behind the wheel under the influence of either drink or drugs.

All three defendants appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, April 29, and pleaded guilty to the offences.

The first to be disqualified was 41-year-old Hayley Lowndes, who was found to be driving a Volkswagen Touran while four times over the limit for cocaine.

Lowndes, of Larch Close in Weaverham, was stopped by police on November 9 last year and gave a blood sample after providing a positive DrugWipe.

The results showed the proportion of Benzoylecgonine (a cocaine breakdown product) in her blood was 204 µg/L which exceeded the legal limit of 50 µg/L.

Magistrates took into account her guilty plea when banning her from driving for 18 months. She must also pay a £100 fine, £85 in court costs and a £34 surcharge to fund victim services.

Next up was Benjamin Smallwood, of Wallerscote Road in Weaverham, who was caught drink driving by police on April 12.

The 31-year-old was driving a Peugeot 107 when he was stopped on Burrows Hill and after being breathalysed, provided a reading of 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – with the limit being 35mg/100ml.

Smallwood was banned for 14 months and must also pay a fine of £250 – he must also pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £34.

The last of the trio to be banned was Jenny Riley, of Beech Lane in Weaverham, who was more than 10 times over the legal limit for cocaine.

The 35-year-old was driving a Renault Megane when she was stopped by police on Walnut Avenue in the town.

Having given police officers a positive DrugWipe for cocaine, a sample of her blood revealed the proportion of the cocaine breakdown product - Benzoylecgonine - was 526µg/L, which was more than 10 times over the legal limit of 50 µg/L.

She received a two-year driving ban and must also pay a £250 fine as well as £85 in costs and a £34 surcharge.