A MAN found in charge of a vehicle after taking drugs has avoided a driving ban.

Declan Humphries, of Townfield Lane, Barnton, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on January 11 for sentencing.

The 26-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place in Antrobus on September 1 last year.

Humphries was found on the A559 in charge of an Audi A3 with more than 200µg/L of ketamine in his blood.

This exceeded the limit of 20µg/L.

Taking his guilty plea into account, magistrates fined Humphries £307 and endorsed his driving licence with 10 penalty points.

The bench took the decision not to impose a driving ban due to the fact disqualification could result in the loss of his job and would 'impact on his efforts to address substance misuse'.

Humphries was ordered to pay £120 in court costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £123 surcharge.