SMOKING cannabis for pain relief led to a lengthy driving ban.

David Timothy Jones, of Trewen, Saron, Llandysul, pleaded guilty to driving while over the controlled drug limit when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, February 19.

The court heard that Jones, 42, was stopped by police who thought he was driving his VW Golf too quickly for the road conditions on the Sageston roundabout on the A477 at Myletts Hill on November 19.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “The officers suspected he had drugs in his system and a road-side drug-swipe was positive. He was four-and-a-half times the limit.”

Rebecca Carter, defending, said Jones had smoked cannabis for pain relief from the age of 21, after slipping disks in his back as a teenager.

The court heard that Jones, who was convicted of drink-driving in 2011, used a gram a day on average, and had felt fine to drive when he visited his partner in Pembrokeshire on the day in question.

“He self-medicates with cannabis to help him sleep. Since the incident he has self-referred to drug agencies to address his cannabis use.”

Magistrates fined Jones £100 and imposed a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was banned from driving for 36 months, and ordered to pay £170 in costs and a surcharge.