A drug-driver has said he will lose his job after he was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Andrew Martin, of Humber Doucy Lane, of Ipswich, pleaded guilty to two charges relating to drug-driving on March 28 when he appeared before the town’s magistrates.

The 32-year-old was stopped in Crown Street, Ipswich, after his Renault Trafic was seen by police who were looking for another vehicle matching the same description.

A subsequent drug test showed Martin had 27 microgrammes of cocaine in his blood. The limit is 10mcgs. He also had 800mcgs of a derivative of cocaine in his blood when the legal limit is 50mcgs.

Martin said he had taken cocaine four days before he was stopped and accepted he should have know better than to do so.

Martin, who works in the gas industry, told the court: “I really, really need my licence. If I’m disqualified I lose my job.”

Martin was also fined £544 and must pay £85 costs and £54 to the victims’ fund.