A DRUG driver told a court he had not realised the cannabis he had taken would still be in his system when he got behind the wheel the day after.

Stuart Doyle, 51, was stopped by police as he drove his Audi A6 on the A629 between Skipton and Cross Hills on February 17 this year, the court heard on Friday. 

A roadside drugs wipe test was positive and he was taken to the police station where he was found to have 2.6 microgrammes of Delta -9-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) in one litre of blood. The specified limit is two.

Doyle, who admitted drug driving, had no relevant previous convictions, heard Skipton Magistrates' Court. 

He told the court he had taken the drug the night before and had not realised it was still in his system when he had chosen to drive.

Doyle, of Simonswood Lane, Kirkby, Liverpool, was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £500. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £200 and costs of £85.