A CANNABIS user who hadn’t eaten for two days was stopped and arrested by police after driving to the supermarket to get some food.

George Oliver Max Thompson, 25, was arrested for drug driving after a roadside test proved positive and was also found in possession of £139 worth of cannabis on the evening of June 9.

He pleaded guilty to both charges when appearing at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, November 18.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said it was around 9.20pm when Thompson, of Hillcrest Rise, Llandrindod, was stopped sat in his Landrover Discovery, parked on Cefnllys Lane.

“PC Thomas found the vehicle, the defendant was sat in it and he spoke with him and believed he was under the influence,” said Mr Davies.

“He could smell cannabis and a drug swipe was positive. During a search of the vehicle, the defendant handed over cannabis with a street value of £139. The defendant said he’d smoked some cannabis and driven to Tesco.”

Thompson was found to be four times the legal drug drive limit and the amount of cannabis found in his vehicle weighed 13.9 grams.

Mr Davies said there was a previous similar matter on the defendant’s record, from 2018, possession of cannabis, for which he’d been given a conditional discharge.

Michael Davies, representing Thompson, said: “He suffers with depression and hadn’t eaten for two days. He’d smoked a joint 12 hours previously and went to get some food, and was stopped by the police.

“He is hoping to take up a driving career once again; he’s not worked since his father died and is living off savings. He is a classic car restorer who has competed all over the world. Inevitably a disqualification will cause considerable hardship.”

Magistrates disqualified Thompson for 12 months and ordered him to pay £320 in fines, as well as £85 costs and a £34 surcharge. They also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.