AN ELECTRICIAN has been put off the road for drug driving.

Police stopped Morgan Brodie, 35, after they saw him pull out of a lay-by on a country road near Wrexham.

He tested positive for cannabis derivative delta 9 and four small bags of cannabis were found in his vehicle.

Magistrates said they would make an order for the drugs to be destroyed.

Brodie, of Croes Ffordd in Caergwrle, smiled and quipped: "Oh, you're not going to give them back to me then."

He was told it was "a nice try" but the order was made and he was banned from driving for a year.

He was fined a total of £557 with £85 costs and a £30 surcharge after he admitted drug driving and possessing the drugs on November 9.

He had 4.9 milligrammes of the drug in his blood compared to the legal limit of two.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told North East Wales magistrates it was 1pm when the police were driving along the secluded Bryn Lane near Bowling Bank when they saw a Passat parked in a lay-by.

As they checked the vehicle details he pulled out and drove off an excessive speed.

When stopped police could smell cannabis and he provided a positive drugs swipe test.

Four small bags of cannabis were found in the centre console and Brodie said he had paid £60 for the drugs.

Mike Pugh, defending, said Brodie co-operated with the police and made admissions at the roadside and in interview.

He admitted he had smoked some cannabis before driving.

Mr Pugh said Brodie had not troubled the court for 15 years.

Losing his driving licence would have a huge impact on his ability to work and support his two children.

"He knows he has been very foolish. It is totally out of character," he said.

Brodie confirmed that he would probably lose his job as a result of the ban and told the Mold court: "It is one of those things, isn't it?"