A local magistrate warned of the pitfalls of parties, drugs and the wrong friends, as a driver, found to have three illicit substances in his system, prepared to lose his business.

Luke Owen Morgan, of Glyn Street, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, pleaded guilty to cannabis possession and three charges of driving while over the controlled drug limit, when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, July 17.

The court heard that police stopped Morgan’s Ford Transit on the A40 at Haverfordwest at 10.40pm while making routine checks on April 2.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “They spoke to the driver and could immediately smell the strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle. The defendant had extremely dilated pupils and was incoherent.”

Morgan handed over a plastic bag containing 2.1g of cannabis when asked if he was in possession of the drug, and a roadside drug test was positive.

A blood sample taken at the police station revealed Morgan, 28, had three different drugs in his system, including the breakdown products of cannabis and cocaine.

Mike Kelleher, defending, told the bench that the drugs had stayed in Morgan’s system after he attended a party in the area over the weekend, and his passenger had been smoking cannabis which accounted for the smell in his van.

“After the blood procedure he was given the keys to drive home. Had he been in the state the police officer described I doubt that would have been the case.”

Mr Kelleher said certain drugs could stay in the system long after their effects have worn off.

He added that self-employed Morgan would have to stop work after losing his licence, as he relied on his van, but lessons had been learned.

Morgan was ordered to pay £515 in fines, costs and a surcharge. He was banned from driving for 18 months and a destruction order was made for the cannabis.

The chairman of the bench said: “I would change my friends if I was you. Parties and drugs are not going to do you any good in your life. Stay away from them.

“You are probably going to lose your business because of this, it’s gone over night.”