A mum who smoked cannabis days before getting behind the wheel of her Vauxhall Astra with three children has been banned from driving.

Claire Davies, aged 46, admitted having smoked the drug four days previously after she was stopped by Police Constable Bufton close to her home in Heol Vaynor, Newtown on July 31. A blood test later revealed that she was more than twice the legal driving limit.

Davies' solicitor told the court that losing her driver's licence would be a "bit of a disaster" because the car was essential for caring for her disabled son.

Davies, of Cwrt Eglwys, Newtown, was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £253 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to drug driving when she appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, November 21.

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Robert Hanratty, acting for Davies, said his client smoked cannabis to cope with her anxiety and that police had no issue with how she drove the vehicle that day.

"It is a bit of a disaster personally because she has a disabled son who she cares for and the vehicle is essential to their lifestyle," he told the court.

Davies must complete the full driving ban because there are no drug-related courses to reduce the length of the disqualification like there is with drink driving offences.

Davies, who had no previous convictions, was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £48 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.