A 31-YEAR-OLD man from Thornhill has been disqualified from driving for 18 months and told to pay £290 for possessing drugs and driving a car on drugs.

Ben Fairbrass, of Elm Court, Thornhill, appeared at Cwmbran Magistrates Court earlier today.

He pleaded guilty to three offences of driving a motor vehicle while unfit to drive from drugs, possessing 80 tables of diazepam and possessing 8.22g of cannabis on March 19 this year.

The court heard how Fairbrass was spotted at 11.08pm on March 19 by a police officer in an unmarked car.

Fairbrass was driving at speed in his white Vauxhall Corsa and braked heavily before pulling up at his home and getting out the car.

Prosecutor Wayne Crook said: “The officer said his speech was slurring and he was difficult to comprehend.

“He had a cocktail of drugs in the blood”.

A police search found the diazepam tablets as well as the cannabis resin.

Sian Mair Brain, defending, said: “He has demonstrated remorse to me for his actions.

“He’s been a carer for his nan who has deteriorated in health. She lives a short distance away from him and he’s been providing daily care.

“Given the fact he’s seen her deterioration it’s difficult for him.”

He was fined £110 for the driving charge, £70 for possessing the class C drug, £110 for possessing the class B drug and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.