A man who had used cocaine at a party a “couple of days” earlier didn’t appreciate the drug would still be in his system.

Blackburn magistrates heard Peter Hamilton was stopped by police for no other reason than he was driving his van on a country lane in the early hours of the morning.

Hamilton, 45, of Burnley Road, Padiham, pleaded guilty to drug driving. He was fined £369 with a £148 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He was banned from driving for 12 months.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Hamilton did not expect the level of the drug still in his system to be as high as it was.

“The only time he can remember taking it was at a party a couple of days earlier,” said Mr Taylor. “He is a self-employed builder and this will be a harsh lesson for him going forward.”