A driver found with two different drugs in his system by police in Tilbury has been banned from driving for 18 months.

An officer saw a Ford Fiesta being driven at speed along Dock Road at about 11.30pm on February 14 and followed it.

When the car stopped in Quebec Road, the driver, John West, was seen moving into a rear passenger seat.

He was then given a breath test and drug-wipe and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving - and driving without insurance.

Further tests showed West, 34, of Southey Walk, Tilbury, had more than the legal limit of benzoylecgonine (a metabolite of cocaine), cocaine and delta-9-tetrahydricannabinol (cannabis) in his blood system.

He was later charged with drug driving.

At Basildon Magistrates’ Court he pleaded guilty and was banned from driving for 18 months, fined £120, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Essex Police’s Head of Road Policing, Adam Pipe, said: “If you drug drive you put not only your safety at risk but also that of other road users.

“We are seeing drug driving becoming an increasing issue in Essex with as many people arrested for it as for drink driving.

“It can slow your reaction time behind the wheel and when faced with an incident that can be fatal.

“Please remember, this summer drive safe drive sober.”

This summer #DriveSafeDriveSober.

To report a drink or drug driver call us on 101.

If you have information or intelligence on someone who has been or regularly drink or drug drives, report it online: http://saferessexroads.org/extraeyes/