A CARPENTER has been banned from the roads after answering his girlfriend's plea for help in the early hours of the morning.

Kristian Luke Jake Sellers pleaded guilty to three drug-driving charges when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Sellers had been arrested after an incident at a garage in Hereford's Commercial Road on September 13, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

The 28-year-old, who admitted smoking cannabis two days before and asked police how long the drug would take to leave his system, was drug tested due to the manner of his driving. The results showed he had more than 800 milligrams of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine, 24 microgrammes of cocaine, and 2.4 microgrammes of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The respective legal limits are 50, 10, and two.

Emma Thorne, for Sellers, said he had been entirely candid and cooperative with police.

"He had used cocaine on the Friday night and had used cannabis a few hours before going to bed on the Saturday to help his anxiety," Mrs Thorne said.

"He had gone to bed expecting to stay there until Sunday morning, but he received phone calls and text messages from his girlfriend in the early hours that said "help."

"She was very emotional when he got there, and that attracted the attention of police."

The court heard the self-employed carpenter knew he was going to lose his licence and hoped to continue working by using taxis and lifts from friends.

Sellers, of Bagallay Street, Hereford, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £333. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.