A 37-YEAR-OLD man who got behind the wheel with cocaine in his system on New Year’s Eve has been given a suspended sentence.

Kiel Simpson, of Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston, drove a VW Golf with the drug in his system on December 31, 2019.

Simpson drove the vehicle on Standish Street, St Helens when he was found to have cocaine and benzoylecagonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in his blood.

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He was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to drug driving.

According to a court sheet, Simpson’s offending was “aggravated” by his record.

He must also undertake up to 20 days’ rehabilitation activity.

Simpson was also banned from having a driving licence for four years.