Llanfyllin woman's licence gone after she took cannabis

Ellie Nicole Calloway pleaded guilty to drug driving after she was stopped by police after driving a Ford Connect along Red Bank in Welshpool with the Class C drug in her system in the early hours of November 19, last year.

The 22-year-old farm worker appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court yesterday (Tuesday, May 12).

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said: "Officers were on duty when they stopped a vehicle being driven by the defendant.

"There was a smell of cannabis and the defendant admitted she had taken it the day before."

Ms Tench explained that a drugs swipe was carried out, which was positive and Calloway became upset.

A blood test at the police station showed she had five micrograms of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol — the active ingredient in cannabis — per litre of blood (ug/l). The legal limit is 2ug/l.

Rob Hanratty, defending, explained that his client had broken her back some time ago and had been taking pain medication to help.

He continued: "Someone suggested cannabis might be a way to help manage the pain so she tried to get a prescription, but there are only five or six outlets in the UK that will prescribe it medicinally.

"She did smoke a small amount the night before, but she was very cooperative with the police."

Calloway, of Ffordd Y Cain in Llanfyllin, was told that magistrates would consider her early guilty plea and banned her from driving for 12 months.

She was also fined £233, and must pay court costs of £85 and a £93 victim surcharge.