A 28-year-old who admitted driving with cocaine and MDMA in her system has been banned from driving for 12 months, a court heard on Tuesday.

Francesca Louise Barker, of Long Bridge Street, Llanidloes, had over 12 times the legal driving limit for cocaine in her blood.

Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said that Barker was stopped by police on the A489 in Newtown on the afternoon of Saturday, May 11. After a positive drug swipe, Barker was arrested and taken to the police station, the court heard. It was found that she had 621mcg/L of a metabolite of cocaine in her blood; the limit being 50, and 19mcg/L of MDMA in her blood; the limit being 10.

Robert Hanratty, defending, said that Barker took some cocaine at a party, and that MDMA “must have been mixed in with the power”.

As well as being disqualified from driving for 12 months, magistrates fined Barker £120 and told her to pay £30 in victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

Chair of the bench, Stephen Pembroke, said: "I would suggest you stop taking drugs." The defendant said she had already sought the help of the drug and alcohol service Kaleidoscope; and Mr Pembroke said this was "excellent".