A MAN who was nearly eight times the drug drive limit when discovered in Heybridge has been banned from driving for three years.

Alfie Brand-Traverso, 30, of Armistice Avenue, Chelmsford, admitted driving under the influence of drugs at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He received a 36 month disqualification and was ordered to pay a fine and victim surcharge of £85, to complete 200 hours unpaid work and a 19-day rehabilitation programme.

Police were patrolling The Causeway in Heybridge when they stopped a BMW 318 being driven by Brand-Traverso at around 7.45pm on January 7.

A drugs test then found that Brand-Traverso had a reading of 388mgs of cocaine per litre of blood with the limit being 50mgs.

PS Neil Coalbran, of Stanway Roads Policing Unit, said: “Brand-Traverso insisted that he had taken drugs days before getting into his vehicle but our results proved this was not the case.

“Driving under the influence of drink or drug is dangerous and wrecks lives. In this case, Brand-Traverso got behind the wheel of his vehicle after taking a significant amount of drugs.

“Fortunately, we managed to stop him before he continued on, otherwise there could have been severe consequences. Brand-Traverso’s long ban will make our roads a safer place to drive.”