A FORMER professional footballer has been banned from the roads after being caught drug driving in Newtown.

Andrew Cornelius De Bont, 47, of Townsend Avenue, Sedgley, Dudley, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court,

De Bont, who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Wolves, Hartlepool United, and Hereford United in the 1990s, was driving his Vauxhall Astra van on the A483 in Newtown when he was stopped by police on October 22 last year.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said De Bont was stopped on suspicion of being under the influence of an illegal substance, and when tested for cocaine was found to have 100 micrograms in his blood. The legal limit is 30.

Robert Hanratty, defending, said De Bont used the Class B drug for self-medication.

"The defendant is a young man who has a multitude of personal health issues", he said.

"He has had operations on melanomas, has major problems with his joints and knees and significant depression. He was self-medicating with cocaine.

"There is nothing to suggest there was impairment with his driving."

Chair of the magistrates bench, Dr Rachel Jones gave De Bont an £80 fine and banned him from the road for 12 months.

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