A drug-driver told a court he had been discharged from the army after being caught under the influence of cocaine.

Kai Weir, 20, of Cockfield Drive Workington, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit when he appeared at Workington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

A separate charge of driving a vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit, which related to Benzoylecgonine - a metabolite of cocaine - was withdrawn.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said police had stopped a black Ford Fiesta on Solway Road in Workington on November 19.

A roadside drug wipe was carried out on the defendant, which tested positive for cocaine. Weir was arrested and taken to the police station.

A blood test showed he had 97mcg of cocaine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Weir, who was unrepresented, told magistrates: "It was stupid on my behalf. I was in the army at the time. They have now discharged me."

Magistrates imposed a 12-month driving ban and fined Weir £120.

He must also pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.