A WREXHAM man has been banned from driving after being found behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of drugs.

Dyfan Buffey, of Culfan in Rhos, was handed a fine of £235 and a driving disqualification for three years.

Jim Neary, prosecuting, said the 29-year-old had been stopped by police on September 18 in the Johnstown area of Wrexham in the early hours of the morning.

He told North East Wales Magistrates Court at Mold how Buffey was pulled over in his Mercedes A Class and, when confronted by officers, was found to be over the limit for drugs in his system, namely cocaine and benzoylecgonine.

Buffey was found to have 27mg of cocaine in his system –the legal limit being 10mg – when a blood sample was taken at the roadside.

Since the offence, Buffey had appeared before the courts in October for drug driving offences and again in January for driving while disqualified.

Ian Barnes, defending, said Buffey – who has cystic fibrosis – had previously been able to manage his condition through ‘extensive exercise’ and went on to represent Wales in international gymnastics but struggled to find the time to exercise as frequently as he got older and had to manage working as well.

Mr Barnes added that, as symptoms got worse, Buffey would struggle with depression which spiralled into illegal drug use as a form of pain relief.

The defence solicitor told the court how Buffey’s recent long-term relationship had began to fall apart in previous months and he would ‘stop looking after himself’ and causing his symptoms to ‘flare up’.

He told the court that Buffey would cope with his ‘physical and emotional struggles’ by turning back to illegal drug use.

Chair of the bench, Michael Jones, passed the sentence and warned Buffey about keeping out of trouble and committing future offences.