A MAN stopped for drug driving blamed the cannabis cookies he had eaten the day before.

Harry Jones told Bolton magistrates that he munched on the biscuits to alleviate pain he suffered due to a leg injury he suffered two years ago.

The court heard how 22-year-old Jones, who runs his own electrician company, was stopped by police in Old Hall Street, Farnworth, at lunchtime on January 22.

Jones, of Haworth Avenue, Holcombe Brook, was behind the wheel of a Toyota Hiace van, and Tara Riley, prosecuting, told the court how officers suspected he was under the influence of some kind of substance.

A roadside saliva test gave a positive result for cannabis.

Jones, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drug driving.

Darin Millar, defending, told magistrates that Jones was “quite unlucky” as he had recorded 2.5mg of cannabis per litre of blood in his system and so was only just over the legal driving level of 2mg.

“What he had told the police to get himself into the position where he took a saliva test was that he had taken some cannabis cookies the night before,” said Mr Millar.

“So he offered police perhaps the best evidence that they had in relation to why he was then to be drug tested.”

Mr Millar added that Jones had suffered a bad leg injury two years ago when he was in Australia.

“He was hospitalised and underwent several courses of surgery,” said Mr Millar.

“He takes the cannabis cookies for his pain, effectively.

“I have had the unwelcome role of explaining to him that that does not afford him a defence and so he pleads guilty.”

The court heard that Jones, who runs his own company, has two employees.

He was fined £230 and ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs plus a £32 victim surcharge.

In addition he was banned from holding a driving licence for 12 months.