A KIDNEY transplant patient who was caught drug driving was warned he was putting his health at risk.

Connor Wiggins, 20, was caught behind the wheel twice in the space of six weeks under the influence of hard drugs.

North East Wales Magistrates’ Court heard he had health issues and was due to have surgery.

Wiggins undergoes dialysis treatment three times a week at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and District Judge Gwyn Jones told him as he banned him for 36 months: “The taking of substances is not conducive to your general health.”

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson said the defendant’s Ford Fiesta was stopped in Barmouth Close, Connah’s Quay after police spotted a rear light was out.

He admitted he had taken cocaine and a blood test at the station showed a level of 76mcg for the drug when the legal limit is 10.

He also had a BZE level of 800; the legal limit is 50.

Wiggins fell foul of the law again when police spotted his car being driven “unusually” in the early hours of the morning in Caesar Avenue in Flint. When he was stopped police said he was unable to keep his head up.

A blood test then showed a cocaine level of 60 and BZE 600. While there was also ketamine in his system with a reading of 210 when the legal limit is 20.

Wiggins, of Kelsterton Road, Connah’s Quay admitted two counts of driving with a controlled drug above the specified limit on March 15 this year and three similar counts relating to driving on April 24 this year.

Bethan Jones, defending, said: “He takes full responsibility for these offences. He thought he was okay to drive.”

Wiggins was also told he would be on a tag between the hours of 7pm and 6am as part of a 13-week community sentence.

He has to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.