A MOTORIST who rolled his car and crashed into a pylon while on drugs escaped serious harm – as well as an immediate prison sentence this week.

Wayne Camilleri was found to be nearly 19 times over the drug driving limit for benzoylecgonine (BZE, a by-product of cocaine) when he crashed his Peugeot 3008 near his north Powys home last April.

Magistrates sitting in Welshpool this week ordered the 46-year-old to serve a 12-week jail term, which they suspended for a year. They also banned him from driving for five years.

Analysis following the accident revealed there to be 948 micrograms of BZE in his blood – the legal limit is just 50mcgs.

The court was told on Tuesday, January 25, that the defendant had no idea how the drug, as well as cocaine and morphine, came to be in his system, although he had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Prosecutor Katherine Elfin said Camilleri had two historic drink drive matters, one dating back to 2013. She said there had also been evidence of poor driving.

Owain Jones, representing Camilleri, of Deytheur Grange, Deuddwr, near Llansantffraid, said his client was remorseful and regrets the whole incident.

“He is confused about how the drugs got into system, but he has abandoned every form of defence and takes full responsibility,” said Mr Jones.

In addition to the suspended sentence and driving ban, magistrates ordered Camilleri to pay £85 costs and a £128 surcharge.