A SECOND drug driving conviction has landed a motorist a three-year ban from the road.

Mohammad Shahekh Rahman was stopped by police driving under the influence of cannabis on October 21 last year in Newtown.

The 26-year-old was driving a Citroen DS3 when he was stopped, with a drug wipe revealing he had 2.6 microgrammes in his blood, exceeding the specified limit which is two microgrammes.

He admitted drug driving when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 11.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said: “It was in the afternoon when officers stopped a vehicle being driven by the defendant. A drug wipe proved positive for cannabis. He has previous convictions, including a similar offence from 2016.”

Rahman, formerly of Great Oak Street, Llanidloes, has since moved back to the Walsall area having lost his job after his arrest.

Speaking in his own defence, he said he had quit cannabis since his arrest. “I know I’m going to get banned,” he said.

“It was one of those situations where I was very stupid, I should have been more responsible driving a vehicle. But, my driving was in no way dangerous.

“Since the arrest I have quit cannabis completely, I hope that can help in relation to what the court can do.

“I had to quit my job because of this. I was planning to start a business in Llanidloes but I can’t do that anymore so I have had to move back to Birmingham. I was supporting my dad’s business, going to get stock from Birmingham, so I have since sold my car to support myself.”

In addition to the driving ban, magistrates fined Rahman £120 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.