AN Alhampton man who failed a police drugs swipe after being pulled over behind the wheel of a car has been given a 12-month driving ban.

Callum Docherty had two passengers in his vehicle when officers smelt cannabis coming from inside and conducted the test which revealed he was over the limit for ketamine.

When he appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, they were told that he had now lost his electrician apprenticeship as a result of the offence.

Docherty, 21, pleaded guilty to an offence of drug driving on the A371 on March 29.

Prosecutor Giles Tippett said that the police were on duty at 7.45pm when they saw a Ford Focus being driven in the direction of Castle Cary.

“They followed the vehicle and when they caught up with it could smell cannabis coming from inside and found the defendant in the driver’s seat with two more passengers,” he said.

“The occupant admitted being in possession of cannabis and when the officers requested a drugs swipe from Docherty it proved positive and he was arrested.”

While in custody a blood test revealed a reading of 31mcg of ketamine when the limit was 20mcg.

Defending himself, Docherty told the court that he had lost his job as an apprentice electrician as a result of the offence and was only a year off qualifying.

He had now found alternative employment as a builder’s labourer.

Alongside the disqualification, magistrates fined him £400 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £160 victim surcharge.