A DRUG driver has been banned after being found behind the wheel driving dangerously with a passenger inside his car, a court heard.
Weymouth Magistrates Court heard how Liam Thomas Lannon Cornell, aged 37, was driving his blue Volkswagen on the B3164, in Marshwood, Bridport with 96 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood in his system.
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Benzoylecgonine is a by-product of cocaine with the legal limit whilst driving being 50 microgrammes.
In court, Cornell, who works as a scaffolder and lives at Flaxhayes, in Bridport, admitted driving his car whilst unfit through drugs.
Prosecutor Andrew Newman said: "The defendant was spotted by a Devon and Cornwall Police dog handler driving erratically.
"At one point he veered into a layby on the road, and the police officer said he nearly flipped the car.
"He was pulled over and arrested by the police dog handler.
"Once at the police station a test revealed he had a metabolite of cocaine (benzoylecgonine) in his system - reading 96 micrograms per litre of blood.
"The officer said his driving was unacceptable and at a dangerous standard, which was coupled with the fact he was carrying a passenger."
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Mitigating Simon Lacey said Cornell did not spot the police officer until he put his lights on.
He said: "As soon as he saw the blue lights he pulled over.
"The drug is a broken down product of cocaine and often does not impair driving ability.
"The reason why it seemed like he almost flipped his car is because he drove into tractor marks in the layby.
"The legal limit for the drug while driving is 50 mcgs.
"There was no slur of speech from him during his arrest, but he was seen by officers pacing up and down a hallway after being taken to the police station.
"He works as a scaffolder and had just finished work before he was arrested.
"Any cause to banning him from driving will impact his job."
Cornell was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
He must also pay a fine of £120, court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34 - totalling £239.
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