A van driver has been banned from the road for a year after his drug use came to light when police stopped him during a work shift on the M6 near Carlisle.
Mohammed Jibran Hanif, 27, was behind the wheel of a Renault Master Luton heading southbound close to Junction 45 on June 29.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard the van was seen drifting and veering in the carriageway.
A police constable stopped the van and detected cannabis from inside. Hanif provided a positive roadside test and a specimen of blood revealed he was over the legal limit for the main psychoactive ingredient of the class B controlled substance.
In court today, he pleaded guilty to a drug-drive charge and had submitted a letter which was read by the district judge, John Temperley.
The district judge observed that Hanif had a number of caring responsibilities with his mother and sister suffering from illness, and his father working long hours.
Hanif confirmed he had been working for a distribution company at the time he committed the offence, adding: “Due to the incident, I’ve been taken off.”
His use of cannabis stemmed from a previous assault which had prompted him to seek pain relief, the court heard.
In view of the mitigation, Mr Temperley limited the driving ban to the minimum mandatory period of 12 months. Hanif, of Putney Road, Birmingham, was also fined £150 and must pay a £60 mandatory surcharge plus £85 costs.
