A 21-year-old man driving on a provisional licence has been banned from the roads after police in Welshpool caught him driving with cocaine in his system.

Officers patrolling the Welshpool Bypass recognised Darren Bebb and followed him to the Severn Street car park at about 3pm on December 10, 2021.

The Guilsfield man was given a 12-month disqualification after pleading guilty to drug driving when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told Welshpool Magistrates' Court that the officers suspected the Ford Fiesta driver of driving under the influence of drugs.

A blood test found that Bebb had 279 micrograms of Benzoylecgonine in his blood when the limit is 50mgs.

Owain Jones, acting on behalf of Bebb, said there was no evidence of bad driving or passengers in the red Ford Fiesta.

"The defendant is a young man and he tells me he has obtained work and any financial penalty he can pay. He is a provisional licence holder, but I ask you to provide the least ban possible. He wants a licence to attend work.

"The lady in the back of this court works for Kaleidoscope and the defendant is working with the agency to reduce his drug habit."

Magistrates disqualified Bebb, of Rhallt Drive, Guilsfield, from driving for a period of 12 months. He was fined £120 which has been reduced because of his early guilty plea. Bebb must also pay a victim surcharge of £34 and £85 prosecution costs.