A DRIVER from Sutton-in-Craven had no idea the cocaine he had taken at least a day before would still be in his system, heard Skipton magistrates.

Zak Peat, 28, was stopped by police on Main Road, Eastburn on November 3 the court was told. Officers, who had been given a description of Peat’s Iveco van to do with a domestic incident, questioned him and carried out a road side drugs test, that proved positive for cocaine.

He was arrested and taken to Harrogate Police Station for a blood test, which later revealed he had 200 microgrammes of the cocaine by-product, benzoylecgonine in one litre of blood, the specified limit is 50.

Peat, who admitted drugs driving, was of previous good character. In mitigation, Keith Blackwell said Peat had taken cocaine one or to days before. He said he had a successful scaffolding business and would now have to get someone to drive him to jobs. Peat, of Park Avenue, Sutton, was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.