A MOULTON man has been hit with a four-and-a-half-year road ban after getting behind the wheel while on cocaine - just three weeks before pleading guilty to an earlier drug-driving offence.

James Owen, of Ravencroft Street was first caught driving after taking cocaine on October 29 last year and appeared at court on April 16 to be dealt with.

But just weeks before he would plead guilty to drug-driving for this first offence, the 41-year-old was once again caught behind the wheel on cocaine. 

On this occasion, Owen was caught driving a Renault Clio in London Road, Northwich, on March 27.

A blood test revealed he had 200µg/L of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, in his system.

This exceeded the legal limit of 50µg/L.

On April 16 Chester magistrates had handed Owen a 36-month disqualification for drug-driving.

Appearing before the same court on August 30 for this latest offence, which he pleaded guilty to, Owen was this time banned from driving for 54 months.

The bench also handed Owen a 12-month community order, within which he must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

Owen will also be making an appearance at Chester Crown Court on September 27 to be sentenced for another drug offence.

On August 23 he admitted to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, a class A drug, in Cheshire between July 21 last year and January 14 this year.