A DRIVER has been given unpaid work and banned for a year after being pulled over by police while over the limit for cocaine in the Riverway Retail Park.

Aaran Cowan, 25, appeared for sentencing last week after pleading guilty to being caught driving while 734 microgrammes over the limit of 50mg in New Street, Irvine on December 12 last year.

Cowan, of Carron Place, Castlepark previously had his drivers licence temporarily disqualified when he admitted the offence at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last month [October 7].

The Procurator Fiscal told the court: “The locus libelled was the Riverway Retail Park. At 9.05 hours police witnesses asked the accused to stop the car.

“He identified himself as the driver and was given a roadside drug screening test which came back positive.

“He was taken to Saltcoats Police Station where a sample was taken and found to contain a quantity of the drug as libelled my lord.”

Defence solicitor Peter Murray told the court his client understood the offence was “a very serious matter”, adding “he is aware of that.”

Sheriff Michael Hanlon adjourned sentencing until later in the year for criminal justice social work reports, adding: “You will need to speak to a social worker and will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence in the meantime.”

When Cowan returned to court for sentencing he was given a community payback order which will include 60 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.

He was also disqualified from driving for year.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Scotland has a zero tolerance approach to taking illegal drugs and driving.

“You’ll commit a crime if you take illegal drugs and drive, as well as put you and other members of the public at risk.

“The police can stop you if they think you’re drug driving. They can test you at the roadside using saliva from a mouth swab.

“Make you do a field impairment test to check you’re fit to drive.

“If you fail either test they will take you to the station to test your blood for drugs.”

Any information can be reported to Police Scotland on 101.

In an emergency always dial 999.