A MAN who drove in Bolton under the influence of cocaine has been banned from the roads.

Mark Snelgrove was detained on Longcauseway, Farnworth, last June.

Bolton Magistrates’ Court heard a police officer spotted a silver Astra on the street at around 1.30pm.

The vehicle was going at a high speed and was pulled over. Snelgrove was found to be the driver. The officer could smell alcohol and so carried out a breath test. The test however came back positive for drugs.

Snelgrove, 36, from Swinton, admitted to having cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system at excess levels when behind the wheel.

Samantha Cole, defending, said Snelgrove was not a regular user of drugs but had been given it by friends.

She said: “He did not think the cocaine would still be in his system, it was. He accepts all of that and has pleaded guilty today. “He has job in a garage, he will lose his licence and will lose his job.”

Snelgrove was banned from driving for 12 months and also fined £300.