A DRUG driver who was caught under the influence twice within a week has been banned from driving for three years.

James Birch, of Harlow Close in Sutton Heath, appeared in Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after he was caught driving under the influence of drugs.

Prosecution, Mr Woodward, told the court that on December 6, police officers saw a white transit van driving down Marshalls Cross Road in Sutton and stopped the vehicle.

When they approached the van, the court heard that officers could smell cannabis from within the vehicle that the 29-year-old was driving.

A roadside drugs wipe was conducted, which tested positive for cannabis, and the court heard that Birch had 9.6 micrograms of THC in his blood.

Then, on December 13, the same white transit van was caught on an ANPR camera while driving down Manchester Road in Woolston and was pulled over once again.

When they approached the vehicle, the officers could smell cannabis from within the van and a drug wipe once again conducted.

The wipe tested positive for cannabis and a drugs test showed that Birch had 154 micrograms of benzocaine in his system, and four micrograms of THC.

The court heard that Birch had failed to comply with probation services ahead of his sentencing, after he did not participate in an interview.

“I don’t know what I’m doing to be honest,” he told the court.

Birch appeared in court unrepresented and made several comments to the Magistrates while in the dock.

“I have a joint on a night, yeah, cannabis doesn’t change me,” he said.

“You may as just ban me [from driving] now. It’s pointless arguing, just ban me and get it done with.”

Birch was sentenced to four weeks imprisonment for the incident on December 6, and four weeks for the incident on December 13 to be served consecutively, suspended for 12 months.

The 29-year-old was also ordered to pay £324 to the court and disqualified from driving for three years.